Five unconventional jobs to help you work your way through college

College can be expensive. There’s no arguing with that. However, you can do your part to pay off your tuition by working your way through college.

Yes, you have a busy schedule because of classes and studying. But the jobs we’ll be taking a look at will be part-time jobs. In today’s gig economy, you can also be able to earn money on the side without having to work a scheduled set of hours.

If you are interested in working your way through college, we have plenty of ideas for you to choose from. Find out which one will fit you best. This can be something you can do on a weekend or even during your summer break.

Let’s take a look now at some of the less conventional jobs that can help you pay your way through college.

1) Dog walker

Getting a part-time job as a dog walker can be exciting. If you love dogs, this is the perfect gig for you. There may be people out there that don’t have time to walk them.

They might be at work, on vacation, or wrestling with a busy schedule on a regular basis. For these reasons, they’ll hire someone to walk their dog. Because our four-legged friends need exercise just like their two-legged counterparts.

It might be a little something that will stand out in your resume.

2) Nanny

If you like kids, this just might be the job for you. The schedule will usually be in the afternoon. So if you have classes all in the morning, this should be a no-brainer in terms of having the time.

Plus, you can also do a few other activities with the children. Meal prep can also be done if you have basic cooking skills.

You can look after children while getting any assignments done. If they have a nap schedule, that’s the perfect time to get work done. It can also be a good job opportunity that comes with room and board.

If you are away from home for school, this may be a lot better than a noisy dorm room. A nanny job may not be so bad after all. 

3) Virtual assistant

Virtual assistants can help out busy people online with several different tasks. This can include scheduling appointments, research, emails, and other tasks. If you are someone that loves being organized and knows their way around a computer, this may be the best job for you.

The hourly pay will be north of $15 on the low end. That’s not bad considering it’s minimum wage if not more than that in some places. 

Plus, you can work this gig at any time. So you could have classes all morning and be available in the afternoons to take care of the tasks someone needs you to do for them.

4) Food service worker

This might be one of the more common jobs for students. These include waiters, waitresses, hosts, dishwashing, baristas, and more. This can be great and many food service workers can work at any time depending on their schedule.

When school is out of session for the summer, they can pick up extra hours and work during the peak days. There are plenty of options for students to choose frome.

5) Tutor

Younger students may need a tutor for a subject they need help in. This is where you come in. Some of the subjects can include math and science, since they are usually the most complex. Plus, tutors that specialize in these fields can command a good price (especially online).

You can even do in-person tutoring and test preparation. Whatever your strengths are, you can use them to tutor others while they achieve academic success.

Leave college with as little debt as possible

If you are looking for a few ways to make money and get through college, these five listed above are a good place to start. You’d be hard-pressed to find something and get a little extra income. Later on, you won’t have to worry about paying a lot back in student loans.

Or you could make enough to pay off your tuition in full. Either way, you deserve to live your post-college life with as little debt as possible. Whether you are a freshman or starting your senior year, you can find work to pay off as much of your tuition as possible.

Photo by Chewy