What are good side hustles for college students?
Good side hustles for college students fit between classes and need no car or inventory: paid user testing of websites and apps, paid research studies on platforms like Prolific, tutoring other students, and campus jobs. Paid user testing pays a fixed amount per 15 to 45 minute recorded study, in cash to PayPal, and needs only a laptop, a microphone and a quiet room; you must be 18 or older.
What works on a student schedule
| Side hustle | Fits where | Needs | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid user testing | A free hour, when invited | Laptop, mic, quiet room, 18+ | Fixed per study, cash |
| Research studies (Prolific) | Any gap | Laptop or phone | Per study, cash |
| Tutoring | Evenings | A subject you did well in | Hourly |
| Campus jobs | Scheduled shifts | Enrolment | Hourly |
| Selling notes or textbooks | End of term | Good notes | Varies |
User testing for students
Companies want first-time reactions to new products, and students are often exactly the audience a product is built for. An Inflight study shows its pay and length before you start, runs 15 to 45 minutes, and pays a study done in good faith even if you got stuck. You need to be 18 or older, live in the United States, and use Google Chrome on a laptop with a microphone. A dorm room works if your roommate is out.
You cash out to PayPal once your balance reaches $6. The first four cash-outs, and any cash-out after you change your PayPal account, wait 72 hours; after that you can cash out once a day and it arrives within 24 hours. Inflight charges no fee.
The limits
You cannot do more studies by wanting to; you do the ones you are invited to. If you need a predictable amount every week, a campus job is the better fit and user testing is the extra on top.
Questions people ask next
- Can international students apply to Inflight?
- Inflight's panel requires that you live in the United States and that your PayPal country and identity evidence match. Prolific accepts participants from many countries.
- Does it matter that I'm studying design or computer science?
- Answer screeners honestly. Some studies want people unfamiliar with a kind of product; others do not mind.
- Is it taxable?
- Generally yes in the US, whether or not you receive a form. Inflight issues none; see the taxes guide.