How to Make Money While Going to Grad School

Graduate students often have quite a lot on their plate. Between taking a full course load, writing papers, doing research, and working on a thesis; a traditional job might not be a viable option. Add in completing internships (some of which do not pay), working assistantships that cover some or all of the tuition costs, and making time for family and friends and you have a schedule with days that never seem to end.

A traditional part time job may not fit well into the hectic and ever-changing schedule of a graduate student. Plus it can take away from time devoted to school. While some may receive small stipends for their work on research or teaching this may barely cover basic expenses. As a graduate student myself, I know how important it is to make time to socialize and "get away" from the pressures of school, some extra pocket money is always nice to have.

But there are ways to make money while in graduate school that offer flexible hours and some extra money.

Get a job on campus:

If you live on campus or near campus, consider getting a job there at least a few hours a week. You may already have an assistantship that pays for your schooling or a portion of it, but these may not pay actual cash to you. You may be able to find work doing research for a professor part time or get a job at a campus store or nearby store. Examples include the bookstore, library, and food places.

Working in these settings can be ideal because there is an understanding that you are a student first and an employee second. Just be sure to limit the hours you work per week or else you could find yourself falling behind in school.

Write online:

I'm a graduate student who makes money by writing online. I was fortunate enough after a while to make enough online that I could quit my part time job back home and focus more on my studies.

The key to writing online is to start early and be consistent in writing at least a little bit every day. There are plenty of sites you can write for ranging from sites like Helium, Bukisa, and Associated Content that pay based on page views and sometimes small upfront payments.

Those fortunate enough to be accepted at websites such as Demand Studios while find potentially greater earnings. For example I spend about 15 hours a week writing for Demand Studios which gives me a few hundred dollars a week. This is far more money than you'll get working a part time job in most cases, so if you have the chance to write for higher paying sites: do so.

Sell items:

You can sell everything from textbooks and clothes to electronics and furniture online. Sign up for websites such as Craigslist and eBay and sell stuff you don't need anymore. You can also sell through Facebook and websites like Amazon.

These are just a few ways that a busy graduate student can make extra money in ways that fit into their schedule. The flexibility offered by these options are unmatched when compared to many other traditional part time job options.