00:00Last year, I met Sarah, a 19-year-old student who was struggling to pay her rent.
00:05She didn't have rich parents.
00:07She didn't have a high-paying job.
00:09But she did have one thing.
00:11Hustle.
00:12She started a tiny side business editing TikTok videos for local creators.
00:18Within three months, she was making more than her part-time cafe job.
00:22And by the end of the semester, she'd fully replaced it.
00:27Her story proves one thing.
00:29In 2025 and beyond, students don't need to wait until after graduation to make money.
00:35You can start building your future now.
00:38Today, I'll show you five side hustles students can start before 2026,
00:44each one low-cost, beginner-friendly, and realistic while studying.
00:50I'll rate them on how fast you can learn it,
00:53how much money you need to start,
00:56and how hard it is to hit your first $1,000 a month.
01:01Stick with me until hustle number five.
01:04Because it's one of the most underrated opportunities right now.
01:09Side hustle number one.
01:10Micro YouTube channels.
01:12Faceless content 2.0.
01:15Instead of trying to go viral, students are building micro-niche channels,
01:20like study hacks, student budget meals, or even campus comedy skits.
01:26Example, Daniel Bitten, who at just 16 scaled faceless Snapchat and YouTube channels
01:33to over $500,000 per month without showing his face.
01:37Ratings.
01:38Time to learn.
01:40Three out of five money needed.
01:42One out of five.
01:44Ease of $1,000 per month.
01:47Two slash five.
01:49Side hustle number two.
01:51AI-powered tutoring.
01:53Regular tutoring is crowded.
01:55But with AI tools, students are creating custom study guides, flashcards, and practice tests in minutes.
02:04Example, Arnav Gupta, a student in India, went viral on LinkedIn in 2024 for combining AI tools with his tutoring service,
02:14creating auto-generated practice tests, and charging higher hourly rates.
02:20Ratings.
02:21Time to learn.
02:22Two out of five money needed.
02:24One out of five.
02:26Ease of $1,000 per month.
02:29Two slash five.
02:31Side hustle number three.
02:33Digital campus services.
02:35College campuses are full of problems waiting for solutions.
02:39Housing.
02:40Textbook swaps.
02:42Part-time jobs.
02:43If you build a Discord, website, or newsletter to solve one,
02:47you can monetize through memberships, ads, or local sponsors.
02:52Example,
02:53Nikhil Singh built a student-to-student study material platform at UCLA and monetized it through ads and partnerships with local businesses.
03:03Ratings.
03:04Time to learn.
03:04Time to learn.
03:053.5 out of 5 money needed.
03:092 out of 5 ease of $1,000 per month.
03:13Two slash fives.
03:14Side hustle number four.
03:16AI design for students and small businesses, instead of dropshipping, offer AI-powered design services, logos, pitch decks, or TikTok graphics.
03:28Example, Ben Gallagher, founder of Lux Collective, originally started with reselling luxury goods, but later used AI-driven design tools to create marketing content that helped him scale into the millions.
03:42Ratings.
03:43Ratings.
03:44Time to learn.
03:462.5 out of 5 money needed.
03:491 out of 5 ease of $1,000 per month.
03:52Two slash five.
03:54Side hustle number five.
03:57Podcast clipping and repurposing.
04:00Podcasts and lectures are everywhere, but most are too long.
04:04Students who clip them into short TikToks, reels, or YouTube shorts are in crazy demand.
04:11Example, Jack Cook, a student editor from New York, built a side hustle clipping podcasts and lectures into viral TikToks.
04:20He landed recurring clients at $400 to $500 per month packages.
04:26Ratings.
04:27Time to learn.
04:283 out of 5 money needed.
04:311 out of 5 ease of $1,000 a month.
04:351.5 out of 5.
04:38So, there you go.
04:395 side hustles you can start as a student before 2026.
04:44The key isn't to try all 5.
04:47Pick one, commit for 6 months, and let it grow.
04:51That's how you turn a side hustle into financial freedom, even before graduation.
04:56Comment, which hustle would you try as a student?
05:01Thanks for watching, and remember, your degree is optional, but your hustle is not.
Be the first to comment