Side Hustle Review: I Tried 20 Side Hustles ($4,200 Profit). Here Are the 5 That Actually Work.

I tried 20 different side hustles last year. Online surveys ($2/hour), content mills ($5/article), and "get rich quick" schemes that wasted my time. I made $50 in 3 months and almost failed a class.

Then I found 5 side hustles that actually pay. In 6 months, I made $4,200—enough to cover an entire semester's tuition. These aren't get-rich-quick schemes. They're realistic, flexible, and won't destroy your GPA.

Here's my honest review of what worked—and what didn't:

My 6-Month Side Hustle Experiment

Starting point: $0 income, $20,000 in student loans, struggling to pay rent After 6 months: $4,200 earned, $700/month average Time invested: 10-15 hours/week GPA impact: Actually improved (from 3.2 to 3.5)

The key: I focused on high-paying, flexible options that worked around my class schedule.

1. User Testing: Get Paid to Test Websites and Apps

What it is: Companies pay you to test their websites and apps and give feedback. You record your screen and voice while using websites, then share your thoughts.

Why I use it: This saved me from taking out another $5,000 loan. I make $300-400/month working 5-10 hours during study breaks. Each test takes 15-20 minutes and pays $10-30. Perfect for between classes.

My specific results:

First month: $180 (2-3 tests per week)
Month 3: $300-400/month (5-8 tests per week)
Total in 6 months: $2,100
Time invested: 5-10 hours per week

Who it's for: Best for students who have 15-20 minute breaks between classes. If you can't commit to regular tests, this won't work.

The honest part: I tried UserTesting.com first, but I only got 1-2 tests per week. Then I signed up for Userlytics.com and TryMyUI.com too. Now I get 5-10 test invitations per week across all 3 platforms. You need to be on multiple platforms to make real money.

How to get started:

Sign up on UserTesting.com, Userlytics.com, and TryMyUI.com (all 3)
Complete your profile and take a sample test
Start receiving test invitations
Complete tests by recording your screen and voice while using websites

Real earnings: $200-500/month working 5-10 hours (perfect for study breaks)

2. Sell Your Class Notes: Turn Study Time Into Income

What it is: Upload your well-organized class notes to platforms where other students can buy them.

Why I use it: This is pure passive income. I'm already taking notes for myself, so why not make money from them? I make $150-200/month from just 2 classes without any extra work.

My specific results:

First month: $45 (just uploaded and waited)
Month 3: $150-200/month (from Calculus I and Biology 101)
Total in 6 months: $900
Time invested: Zero (I was already taking notes)

Who it's for: Best for students who take detailed, organized notes. If your notes are messy, this won't work. You need clear formatting, diagrams, and examples.

The honest part: I tried Course Hero first, but they take 50% commission. Stuvia only takes 20%, so I switched. I also tried StudySoup, but Stuvia has more traffic. Focus on high-demand classes (intro courses, prerequisites). I made the most money from Calculus I and Biology 101—classes that hundreds of students take every semester.

How to get started:

Choose a platform: Stuvia (best commission rate), StudySoup, or Course Hero
Upload your notes (PDF format works best)
Set your price ($8-12 per set is the sweet spot)
Market to classmates (share in study groups)

Real earnings: $50-300/month per class, depending on popularity

3. Online Tutoring: Use What You Already Know

My story: I was acing my calculus class, and a friend asked me to tutor her. I charged $25/hour and realized I could do this online for more students.

What it is: Tutor students in subjects you've already mastered.

Why it works:

You're reviewing material (helps your own GPA)
High hourly rates ($20-50/hour)
Flexible scheduling
Can tutor multiple subjects

My experience: I signed up on Wyzant and started tutoring calculus and chemistry. I set my rate at $30/hour and got my first student within a week. I now tutor 5-8 hours per week and make $300-500/month.

How to get started:

List subjects you're strong in (check your transcript)
Sign up on Wyzant, Tutor.com, or Varsity Tutors
Set your availability and rates
Start with lower rates to build reviews, then increase

Real earnings: $300-800/month working 10-15 hours/week

Pro tip: Start with subjects you aced. I started with calculus (A+) and chemistry (A). Create a simple website or social media profile showcasing your expertise. Offer free 15-minute consultations to attract students.

4. Freelance Writing: Turn Papers Into Paychecks

My experiment: I was already writing papers for classes. A professor suggested I try freelance writing. I was skeptical, but I created a portfolio using my best class papers.

What it is: Write content for businesses, blogs, or websites.

Why it works:

You're already writing for classes
Can work around your schedule
Builds a portfolio for your career
Pays $20-100 per article

My experience: I joined Upwork and started with small projects ($20-30 per article). I specialized in college life and study tips—things I know better than anyone. After 3 months, I was getting $50-75 per article. I now write 5-8 articles per month and make $300-500/month.

How to get started:

Create writing samples (use your best class papers)
Join Upwork, Fiverr, or ProBlogger job board
Start with smaller projects to build reviews
Specialize in topics you know (your major, college life, etc.)

Real earnings: $200-600/month writing 5-10 articles

Pro tip: Pitch to college-focused blogs and websites. They need content about student life, study tips, and campus culture—things you know better than anyone. I've written for 3 college blogs and they keep coming back for more.

5. Create and Sell Digital Products: Passive Income That Scales

My discovery: I created a study guide for my calculus final and shared it with classmates. They loved it and asked if they could buy it. I realized I could sell it online.

What it is: Create study guides, templates, or resources and sell them online.

Why it works:

Create once, sell forever
Passive income (earn money while you sleep)
No ongoing time commitment
Can scale to multiple products

My experience: I created a calculus study guide and sold it on Gumroad for $12. I made $180 in the first month. I then created a weekly planner template and a citation guide. I now have 5 products and make $200-400/month passively.

How to get started:

Identify what you're good at (study methods, organization, specific subjects)
Create a valuable resource (study guide, planner template, cheat sheet)
Sell on Etsy, Gumroad, or your own website
Market to college students on social media

Real earnings: $100-500/month per product (can have multiple products)

Pro tip: Start with one high-quality product. Test it with classmates first. If they find it valuable, other students will too. Popular products include: exam study guides, weekly planner templates, citation guides, and subject-specific cheat sheets.

The Strategy: How to Balance Side Hustles With College

My system:

Time management:

Block specific hours for side hustle work (don't let it bleed into study time)
Use study breaks for quick tasks (user testing, uploading notes)
Focus on passive income streams (notes, digital products) that don't require constant attention

My schedule:

Monday-Friday: 2-3 hours of side hustle work (after classes, before dinner)
Weekends: 4-5 hours (mostly passive income maintenance)
Study breaks: Quick user tests (15-20 minutes)

Priority order:

Maintain your GPA (side hustles aren't worth failing classes)
Focus on high-paying, flexible options first
Build passive income streams over time
Scale what works

How Much Can You Actually Make?

My conservative estimate (5-10 hours/week):

User testing: $200/month
Selling notes: $100/month
Total: $300/month = $3,600/year

My aggressive estimate (15-20 hours/week):

User testing: $400/month
Selling notes: $200/month
Tutoring: $400/month
Freelance writing: $300/month
Digital products: $200/month
Total: $1,500/month = $18,000/year

Real talk: Even $300/month makes a difference. That's $3,600 per year that goes directly to your student loans instead of adding more debt.

My actual results: I made $700/month on average, working 12 hours/week. That's $8,400 per year—enough to cover an entire semester's tuition.

The "Fake" vs. "Real" Filter: Side Hustles I Tried and Didn't Like

Online Surveys (Swagbucks, Survey Junkie): I tried these first because everyone recommended them. Made $2/hour. Waste of time. Don't do it.

Content Mills (Textbroker, iWriter): Paid $5 per 500-word article. Took me 2 hours to write. That's $2.50/hour. Not worth it.

Dropshipping/Print-on-Demand: Everyone says it's "passive income," but you need to invest $500+ upfront and spend hours on marketing. I lost $200 before quitting. Too risky for students.

Food Delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats): I tried this for 2 weeks. Made $8/hour after gas. Not worth the wear on my car or the time.

The lesson: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Focus on side hustles that pay $15+/hour and work around your schedule. The 5 I listed are the only ones that actually worked for me.

Final Thoughts

You don't need a revolutionary business idea to make money in college. You need to leverage what you already have: your time, your knowledge, and your ability to learn.

My exact results:

Started: $0 income, $20,000 in student loans
After 6 months: $4,200 earned, $700/month average
Time invested: 10-15 hours/week
GPA impact: Actually improved (from 3.2 to 3.5)

I went from $0 income to $700/month. I went from drowning in debt to making progress. I went from stressed about money to focused on classes.

The difference wasn't a magic formula—it was finding the right side hustles and being consistent.

Start with one side hustle. Master it. Then add another. Before you know it, you'll have multiple income streams that work around your class schedule—not against it.

Action Plan

Pick one side hustle from this list that fits your schedule
Sign up this week (don't overthink it)
Commit to 5 hours in the next 2 weeks to test it
Track your earnings and adjust

Question for readers: What side hustle are you trying this semester? Share your experience in the comments and let's help each other pay off those loans faster.