Top 53 Passive Income Ideas for Students to Make Money

According to the IRS, passive income is regular income earned from sources other than employers or contractors. Passive income can come from a rental property, a limited partnership, or another enterprise in which the individual is not actively involved.

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The cost of earning a college degree can be high. Working a part-time job, but still taking courses, can limit how much time you have available. Taking out student loans can also be costly.

Here are some passive income ideas for students to consider if you want to get started right away. You’ll need one of two things: time or money. You can also combine both to maximize your income.

53 Best Passive Income Ideas for Students

1. Creating a YouTube channel

Streaming videos on YouTube is one of the best ways to make money as a college student. With YouTube, you can build a large following and become well-known in a short period of time. All you have to do is set up a YouTube account and produce high-quality content on YouTube.

You can create a YouTube channel as a student and earn $18 per 1,000 ad views. This equates to $3 – $5 per 1000 video views.  

2. Sell Old Textbooks

There are many sites on the web that can help you sell your old textbooks like Chegg or BookScouter as well as on Amazon, eBay, or Craigslist.

Sell your old books and textbooks and earn passive income from something you don’t need. You can also sell other people’s books and textbooks.

3. Cryptocurrency Investments

College students can also generate passive income by investing in cryptocurrency. While these investments are quite speculative – they can be a great way to generate income.

The first step is to create a free Coinbase account. From there you can purchase your favourite cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Etherium, and others.

4. Create an Online Course

It’s easy to create an online course on sites like Udemy or Skillshare. You’ll have no upfront costs, just create a course and leave it there. That makes it a great source of passive income. But it has to be a good course.

Think again if you think you have nothing to teach because online courses could cover anything from how to take great photos with your phone to applying makeup to writing rap songs.

It is possible to earn anywhere from $1000 to $100,000 per year with online courses. Your revenue will mostly depend on the amount of traffic you can bring, your conversion rate, and the price of your courses.  

5. Tutor

It is also possible to tutor students online. This can be a great way to make some extra money, and it is great for students who are well-versed in certain subjects. If you are a tutor, you can advertise your services on Craigslist and other similar sites or on sites like Tutor.com.

Start tutoring today and watch your passive income grow! There are tons of subjects you can tutor students in, so there’s something for everyone.

Most online tutors are paid between $30 and $60 per hour for basic subjects but can reach $50 or $60 per hour for advanced subjects such as SAT preparation or calculus. 

6. Video Editing

It is possible to earn extra income by editing media like videos and photos. Many individuals and production agencies are looking for people to edit content during their free time.

Freelance video editors can offer editing services from the comfort of their home. Getting clients and outsourcing the work is one way to make the job more passive. Video editors earn a lot of money, especially when the content is long and high-quality.

Depending on your experience and duties, freelance video editors make $20 an hour on average in the U.S.

7. Participate In Sleep Studies

It is less popular, but sleeping can actually be a passive income source if you take part in sleep studies that companies and organizations initiate during research.

During sleep studies, organizations like NASA recruit volunteers and pay them over the course of the study period. It is not uncommon for institutions like Harvard and others to pay volunteers to participate in their studies, which is an easy and lucrative way to earn extra income.

Healthy volunteers, aged 18 to 30, are being recruited for the study, which pays up to $2,500. Another study on circadian rhythms, which requires sleep monitoring for two to four weeks and a stay at a sleep lab for five days, pays up to $1,800.

8. Make Money by Completing Small Tasks

In this case, you won’t be earning a passive income. However, there are many freelance websites like UpWork, Freelancer, etc. that you can use to earn money.

It is possible to sign up for such websites and complete tasks such as language translation, video transcription, content writing, graphic design, and much more. This will lead to an income for you.

9. Become a Vlogger

For students, vlogging is an excellent passive income option. You can start a Vlog by just turning on your camera (or using your phone!) and filming your everyday life. 

Vlogs are very popular on Youtube. Once you reach a certain level of audience and viewership, you start earning income.

You can earn money from advertising, affiliate marketing, and brand sponsorships. Building your audience will take time and effort, but once you reach a certain number, making money will be easier.

A vlogger with a large following can earn between $10,000 and $20,000 a month from sponsorships, advertising, and merchandise sales.  

10. Pet sitting

Even though it’s not completely passive, you probably can do your homework and play video games in your apartment anyway if you have a cute puppy or kitty beside you. 

Obviously, you have to feed them and maybe take a few walks, but overall it’s pretty passive income.

Your pet-sitting profile on Rover can help you find pet-sitting jobs, and you’ll feel much better knowing that little Rex or Regina is in good hands.

In general, pet sitting starts at $10/hour and can reach $25/hour.

11. Create an Amazon FBA business

“Fulfillment by Amazon” is a business model where you send your products to Amazon, and they handle storage, shipping, and customer service so you can focus on other aspects of your business.

12. Renting Your Bike

You can earn money by renting out your bike(s) to other bikers if you seldom use them. There has actually been a bike rental business for a long time and it can be a lucrative passive income source.

You just have to know bikers in your area or join peer-to-peer platforms like spinlister.com to start your bike rental business. 

To maintain your customers, make sure you rent high-quality bicycles and offer reasonable rates.

Renting your bike can earn you over $500 per month, depending on the number of bikes and clients you have.

13. Guide about Project Work

As a student, you can guide other students and share different ideas about the project tasks. Science projects require a lot of creativity and innovation.

Share new ideas and guide students. This will help many students score higher and be more innovative.

14. Vending Machine Business

You can earn money by investing in vending machines on your campus so that students don’t have to make a long trip to the cafeteria for instant snacks.

Before you buy one, do your research so you know what the average student needs.

Make sure your vending machines are located in high-traffic areas. For example, if your vending machines are near dorms, you might want to stock them differently than if they are near lecture halls.

A well-placed and well-stocked vending machine can earn $100 a week or more, whereas most vending machines earn less than $5 a week. 

Pro Tip: A business plan is essential for a successful vending machine business, download this free vending machine business plan template to a one yourself.

15. Become a Social Media Influencer

The popularity of social media these days makes it a great opportunity to make some money. Wouldn’t it be great to make money without having to work hard at it?

You start by choosing a niche, choosing a platform on which to share your content, and then writing content. 

You need to work for passive income through social media marketing. You can earn money by running ads, affiliate marketing, etc., once you have gained considerable traction.

16. Virtual Assistant

It is also possible to make money by becoming a virtual assistant. You can make money as a virtual assistant by working from home, and it doesn’t require too much experience or special skills.

You can find work as a virtual assistant on websites like UpWork and Freelancer.

A virtual assistant’s salary ranges from $21,000 to $56,000 per year, with the median annual rate at $36,272. Hourly virtual assistant pay ranges from $10.16 to $29.49, with a median rate of about $16.

17. Earn Money by Creating a Quiz

As I was travelling by train recently, I noticed two kids playing quizzes online and one of them was asking her elder brother general knowledge questions.

In addition, I have seen that students are increasingly taking quizzes online. As a student, look at this as a passive income opportunity.

It is possible to create your own quiz website for very little money and monetize it. You can monetize your quiz site in a number of ways. You can create a mobile app if you have some technical knowledge or are familiar with coding.

18. Creating a Digital Product

The idea of creating digital products such as e-books, videos or courses on subjects you are passionate about is a passive income idea for students that doesn’t require much work.

It is possible to sell these products through websites like Udemy, where people pay a small fee per purchase.

19. Parking Spots to Rent

Your parking spot at home may be free during your college break. If you have a free parking space, such as a garage or driveway, you can rent it out and make hundreds of dollars every month.

When parking spots are hard to find and expensive in big cities, people who have free spaces actually make money renting them out as parking spaces.

A parking space can earn you anywhere from $100 to $400 a month depending on the location and demand. You can also list your space on renting apps to get more clients.

20. Online Selling of Handmade Items

It is also possible to make passive income by selling handmade items online.

You can find a number of websites that allow you to sell your creations, such as Etsy and Shopify, on which you can make your profit.

21. Online Video Game Streaming

Many people around the world enjoy watching their favorite gamers. If you love video games, you can make money playing them.

Basically, all you have to do is record the video, upload it to an online platform like Twitch or YouTube, build followers – and then watch as passive income rolls in. A gaming influencer agency, such as Grin. co can also help you get started.

There are some people who make a lot of money from online gaming, but it really depends on the number of followers you have. With time, you could reap some great benefits, however.

22. Participate in Medical Studies

Many colleges have medical study programs that pay for volunteers. Often they need participants who have a particular medical condition, but they also include a control group.

Psychological studies also welcome test subjects. A popular option is a sleep study – you can’t get more passive than earning money while you sleep!

23. Bond Investments

If you invest in bonds, you can earn passive income in two ways. The first way is to hold the bonds until they mature and start earning interest. Bonds usually pay interest twice a year.

Bonds can also be profitable if you sell them for more than you paid for them. If you’re a beginner and aren’t sure how something works, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

24. Niche Membership Sites

In case you have skills and knowledge that you can share with others and love creating content, this is the idea for you. It is a great way to earn passive income by identifying a niche and establishing a membership site that is accessible only to members.

In return for access to your content, members pay a membership fee – a lucrative way to monetize your blog.

As long as members remain subscribed, you can expect a steady stream of income. Your niche site can earn you thousands of dollars a month, depending on the number of subscribers and the membership fee.

A membership site can earn you between $25k and $50k a month even if you pay affiliates half. That’s a significant income stream, and if you decide to sell it one day, you could profit as much as a million dollars.

25. Webinar Creation

The webinar is similar to an online course, but it takes place in real-time over an online platform like GoToWebinar or Zoom.

You can sell your products or collect registration fees through webinars.

26. Car Rental

Renting out your car can also earn you passive income. Services like Getaround and Turo allow you to rent out your car to other drivers.

A rental car could make you extra money because they are in high demand, so you are making passive income from something you would otherwise keep in the driveway.

It cost an average of $589 to book a car 91 days in advance, and $513 to book a car 7 days in advance.  

27. Renting Your Storage Space

You can earn passive income by renting out your garage, attic, basement, closet, guest room, RV pad, etc. Having extra space can be a great way to earn money passively.

Businesses or individuals can rent out storage spaces that have run out of space. You can make money passively by renting out storage spaces, especially if you haven’t used them for quite some time.

Demand, location, and other factors all play a role in determining how much money you can make renting out storage spaces.

Pro Tip: You need a business plan if you are starting a self storage business, If you are DIY business plan writer, Download this free self storage business plan template to write a one youself.

28. Cashback Apps or Shopping Rewards

You need to buy many things to take care of yourself and provide for your needs and wants. Why not make some extra money? With cashback and rewards apps, you can earn money for your purchases.

Check out apps such as Ibotta, Rakuten, and Dosh to earn cashback and rewards from your purchases. Cashback apps are excellent passive income sources for students.

29. Participate In Paid Focus Groups

It is possible to get a little extra money by participating in paid focus groups. These are groups of people who gather together to provide feedback on a product, service, or idea.

In addition to finding these groups online, you may also contact a local market research firm.

30. Graphic Design

You can create graphics that you can sell to other businesses or individuals to use on their websites, marketing materials, or promotional materials if you are good with Photoshop, GIMP, or other design programs.

This is a great way to generate passive income as you can sell your graphics again and again.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of Graphic Designers in 2020 was $53,380. The top 25 percent earned $71,310, and the lowest 25 percent earned $40,160.  

31. Peer-to-Peer Lending

The P2P lending industry offers passive income if you have extra cash at your disposal. You lend money to individuals online and charge interest – just like financial institutions do. P2P lending sites allow you to lend money and earn interest by signing up for them.

Although it is fairly risky due to bad debt, you can earn hundreds of dollars from interest each month. Furthermore, it allows you to remain flexible and offers a high return on investment.

32. Print On Demand Stores

Make passive income by starting your own print-on-demand store. You can sell your designs on sites such as Redbubble or Society Six.

A print-on-demand store allows you to sell your designs without having to keep inventory, and you can also sell other people’s designs.

33. Chatbots

Chatbots are still relatively new, but they are becoming increasingly popular, making them an effective passive income source. Your Chatbot has to be monetized to make money.

You could do so by selling its services to clients or businesses. Affiliate marketing, advertising, eCommerce, lead generation, etc. are other ways you can make money using your Chatbot.

The goal is to identify a niche product or service and promote it. Creating and running a popular bot with a large fan base or engaging prospects can earn you hundreds of dollars every month.

The cost of creating a chatbot can range from $500 to $2,500, depending on whether you use an agency or create it yourself.

34. Selling Ice Cream

The business may be harder in college, but ice cream is a favourite of many people and you can make a passive income selling it. If you have a well-established clientele and a good location, you can earn extra income selling ice cream.

Ice cream is one of the fastest-moving food products, so you can earn extra income. It is essential that you offer high-quality, delicious ice cream that your customers will love so you can increase sales and retain your customers.

If you want to earn more money, you can sell ice cream at events (football anyone?) on the roadside or from a food truck.

There is no standard range for earnings, but they tend to be in the range of $20,000 to $49,000 per year depending on your location, size, and other market factors. 

Pro Tip: Download free Ice Cream Business plan template as a roadmap for your business.

35. Sell Stock Photos

If you are a good photographer, you may be able to make a lot of money by selling your photos online to a stock photos website.

There are many such sites such as Shutterstock.com and iStockphoto.com that allow you to upload your images and sell them.

36. Display Advertising

The best way to earn extra income is to display advertisements on your website, on your app, on your blog, or on your private channels.

Here are some popular ad services:

• The best Pay-per-Click (PPC) method is Google AdSense
• If you use WordPress, then WordAds is a great tool for you.

37. eCommerce

By creating an eCommerce site and selling products and services, you can make a decent amount of fairly passive income. You earn passive income by running a site that stays active without needing your constant attention.

You can make money from eCommerce with drop shipping, affiliate marketing, print-on-demand, display ads, and more, but you don’t have to have any development skills if you choose the right platforms.

Pro Tip: A business plan is necessary for a successful eCommerce business, download the free eCommerce business plan sample to write a plan yourself.