5 Best Side Hustles For Graduate Students in 2023

It’s no secret that graduate school can be very expensive! And this simple fact means that a lot of grad students struggle to make it financially while they’re attending school.

This is mostly due to the fact that most grad students don’t have the time to hold down a full-time job, as well as complete their studies.

But there is a solution, side hustles.

Side hustles can provide students with a very necessary infusion of cash, but they don’t take as much time as a full-time job.

However, there are still concerns related to side hustles and grad school. Let’s break down the best side hustles for graduate students.

And everything you need to know about making money as a grad student.

Can You Balance a Side Hustle and Grad School?

The first question that many students ask themselves when they’re considering starting a side hustle is, “can I balance it with grad school?”…

The answer is yes in most cases because the beauty of side hustles is that they’re fairly time effective.

It’s all a matter of finding which side hustle works with your schedule.

How Do I Choose a Side Hustle as a Grad Student?

Even if you have decided to start a side hustle, the decision of which type to start can still be quite overwhelming.

But the perfect side hustle is out there! You just have to keep your individual circumstances in mind; schedule, income needs, personal preferences, etc.

Who knows, you may even find the perfect side hustle in the following list.

Just remember that if you try out a side hustle and feel that it isn’t for you, you can always try out a different one next!

Trial and error should never be underestimated.

How Can I Make Time for a Side Hustle as a Grad Student?

But what if you really don’t have time for anything other than studies, even if it’s necessary?

The good news is that there’s almost always a solution!

You could brush up on your time management skills, consider decreasing your downtime, choose a side hustle with minimal time required, etc.

You just have to get creative and you’ll almost always be able to carve out a little extra time.

5 Best Side Hustles For Graduate Students

1 – Tutoring

One of the most popular side hustles for grad students is tutoring, and it’s probably a side hustle you’ve considered or heard about before.

There are many different ways to get started, there are tutoring options online or you could always tutor fellow students at your school.

But it’s a great way to earn a little money, help someone out, and even brush up on your own skills indirectly!

In fact, tutoring is actually one of the side hustles that Cumberlands University suggests.

2 – Babysitting

Babysitting may seem like a side hustle more suited for high school kids at first glance, but it could be an effective way to make money for grad students as well.

There may even be babysitting opportunities on campus!

But even if you have to travel off-campus to do it, people will pay good money for someone they can trust with their kids.

And someone as responsible as a grad student will probably fit the bill.

3 – Virtual Assistant

This is a side hustle that grad students many years ago wouldn’t have had, but we’re lucky enough to have the option of today.

And it is, being a virtual assistant.

Being a virtual assistant is a really great way to earn money as a grad student because most of the tasks required can be completed at a variety of times.

And a flexible schedule is one of the biggest requirements a grad student has for a side hustle.

You can offer up your services online or to people, you know at your school.

4 – Freelancing

There are many different types of freelancing jobs that you can find as a grad student, and most of them are completely remote.

Some potential ideas are graphic design, writing work, coding, editing, or anything else you feel skilled enough in to do for other people.

Most people choose to do something related to the field they’re studying, but freelance writing is a very popular option.

And an added benefit is that you’ll be getting experience from your freelance work in addition to funds.

5 – House and/or Pet Sitting

This is similar to babysitting but may be more suitable for grad students who don’t feel like being around kids on a regular basis.

You could potentially make more money house and/or pet sitting than babysitting, depending on the requirements of the job, because it isn’t as time intensive.

So it’s definitely something to consider, and once again, you could probably find some work on campus this way!

Should You Consider These Side Hustles as a Grad Student?

The full answer will depend on your situation, but the items on this list are regarded to be some of the best side hustles for grad students.

Partly because of their scheduling flexibility, partly because of the pay rates, and partly because a lot of them can be done with connections from your very own campus.

So if there was one that stood out to you, it’s always worth a try, or at least some additional research.

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