How to make money while in college

The cost of attending college extends well beyond tuition, room and board, and books — you also have to factor in clothing and transportation as well as incidental, unexpected, and nonessential expenses. Once you apply scholarships, loans, grants, and savings, you may still have a gap in funds to cover the full cost of your education.

Whether driven by sheer necessity or a desire for more comfort, you may need to figure out how to make money in college. Here are some tips on finding part-time jobs for college students:

Work-study programs

The U.S. Department of Education's Federal Work-Study program funds full- and part-time jobs for students at participating colleges. Eligible students must already receive financial aid and need additional support to pay for expenses while in school. To qualify, you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) as early as possible, because work-study eligibility and subsidized jobs are limited and often granted to students on a first-come, first-served basis as part of their financial aid package.

In some cases, the school will match a student with the job, while in others the student is responsible for finding work. The job might be on or off campus, but it will always be relevant to the student's area of study. Off-campus employers are typically nonprofit organizations or public agencies. The amount of work awarded can vary, with participants earning at least the current hourly minimum wage. Students are usually paid directly but their earnings can, in some cases, be applied directly to tuition or other fees.

The work-study program has proven to be a reliable choice for anyone who wants to work in their desired field — over 500,000 students participate every year. One thing to note: While the amount of money earned will not affect your eligibility for future financial aid from the government, work-study earnings are subject to federal and state income tax and you must remain eligible by maintaining satisfactory academic progress for all federal aid to retain your position.

Part-time jobs on campus

Even if you don't qualify for the official federal work-study program, you may be eligible for a work-study arrangement. Often, university funds are distributed to academic departments or offices for student hires. As with the federal program, the pay rate is at least the minimum hourly wage, and hours will be limited. On-campus jobs can include barista, library aide, and research assistant.

The most desirable jobs tend to fill quickly. Among the many benefits of working on campus is that college employers understand the hectic lives of students, and their offices or places of business usually observe the same academic calendar. On-campus jobs can provide meaningful academic and learning experiences and provide a foundation for network building, skill development, or even a future job offer.

Part-time jobs off campus

Part-time jobs for college students off campus have their own perks, including a change of scenery and the opportunity to meet new people. In some cases, these job options might offer better pay than work-study or on-campus jobs and more plentiful hours. With a wider world to choose from, you may find it easier to find work outside of school, and you won't have to demonstrate financial need to obtain a position.

If you can land a job at a major corporation, you may qualify for tuition assistance, with the benefits kicking in immediately in some cases. However, a job with daytime hours can conflict with an overcommitted college student's class and study time.

Enter the gig economy

Tech savvy twenty-somethings are well-positioned candidates for on-demand jobs — many of which allow you to set your own schedule and don't require a college degree. Such "side gigs" might include shopping for or delivering groceries, translating texts, doing data entry, participating in user testing sessions, or teaching languages.

For students who have skills in areas such as writing, graphic design, or other creative areas, freelancing offers similar flexibility and exposure to a marketplace with plenty of contract work opportunities. Websites that match jobs and clients such as Upwork™ are a great starting point for finding short-term freelance projects to take on as needed. While pet sitting and being a babysitter earned you some spending cash back in high school, being a freelancer in college will help prepare you for the rigor of meeting professional expectations in your first job.

What's more, if you have a creative outlet that produces real goods, you could open an online shop on a marketplace site and sell your goods for some extra cash. Even though the late 1990s and 2000s seem far away now, extra money can still be made selling t-shirts on eBay. And let's not even count all the ways you could sell used items on Craigslist.

Many of these side hustles will allow you to earn cash in your own spare time, working around your class schedule. Some can even be done from the comfort of your dorm room. There are countless ways to make money online, as any social media influencer could tell you. Oftentimes, all it takes to make more money is a smartphone, a PayPal account, and writing skills to get a freelance writing gig or to become a virtual assistant.

Speaking of writing skills, you could start blogging with the intent of earning affiliate income. Or, you could start an educational video channel to help others learn how to develop a skill set that you possess, all while collecting ad revenue. The potential to add passive income will be a boon to your personal finances. You may even be able to start paying down that student loan debt early.

Paid internships

Given the importance of gaining relevant, real-world experience, a career- and bank account-building apprenticeship would represent an ideal college job. The number of paid internships is on the rise, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). The ultimate goal, of course, is to prepare for work after graduation, and those with paid internships are more likely to obtain a job offer.

Even if a paid internship ultimately doesn't lead to a full-time job, internships also teach a wide variety of on-the-job skills that serve students well across many fields, such as teamwork, motivation, and professional behavior. What's more, a good experience will yield valuable insight, positive recommendations, and ongoing career connections — not to mention a steady chunk of walking-around cash.

Cooperative education programs

A number of colleges offer cooperative (co-op) education, or structured programs that allow students to combine their classroom study with work in the field through a partnership between the academic institution and an employer. Some schools that offer co-ops include Drexel University, Purdue University, University of Cincinnati, and Northeastern University. Ideal for career-focused students, these programs are usually structured to allow for a full year of study followed by alternate semesters of work for pay and traditional study.

Students might work full time for anywhere from three to 12 months at a stretch. Not only do employers usually pay well above minimum wage, but about one half of co-op participants receive a job offer from at least one of their employers before graduation. The co-op experience can give students a chance to study rigorously while applying those learnings in the real world in real time.

One catch: A co-op bachelor's degree typically takes five years to complete, which means that the costs to attend can also be higher.

Ready to put some money in your pocket — now and in the future?

Making smart decisions now about paying for college may help you keep more money in your pocket once you graduate. Citizens is here to help you navigate the process of paying for college. To learn more about our student loans, call 1-888-411-0266 to speak to a Student Lending Specialist or visit our Student Lending page — we're on chat.