With spring break fast approaching, many students are anxiously checking their bank accounts to finance their travel plans. When University of Wisconsin-Madison freshman Haley Vindel-Mejia planned a trip to Hawaii, a new opportunity caught her attention.
“I had multiple people explain to me that they get a lot of money when donating plasma,” she said. “A lot of the people I know who donate plasma often use that money to pay for groceries or just buy the things they want.”
Vindel-Mejia donates plasma at BioLife Plasma Services once a month, sitting in a chair while a machine separates plasma from the blood donated. She said each donation pays out roughly $100, but when donating regularly, the gig can bring in up to $800 per month.
But Vindel-Mejia isn't the only student hoping to make extra income as a full-time student. As tuition and rent continue to climb, many UW-Madison students are finding new and creative ways to offset costs through unusual side gigs.
For some students, these side hustles help cover everyday expenses, such as groceries, rent and transportation. Others use the money to fund hobbies, travel or social activities.
UW-Madison freshman Sienna Kenney runs a small nail business offering gel polish, acrylic nails and detailed nail art. She has her own nail page on Instagram where people reach out to set up appointments in her dorm.
“My mom first taught me to paint my nails when I was in elementary school,” Kenney said. “Once my friends started to recognize my talent and ask me to do theirs, I had the idea of making some profit off of it.”
Kenney’s prices range from $30 to $45 depending on the design and length of nails. While she initially started the business to pay for fun activities in high school, the income now helps cover everyday expenses in college.
“This side hustle helps me pay for groceries, medicine, transportation from and to home and occasionally for fun items or events,” Kenney said.
Other students have taken their side gig search digital.
UW-Madison junior Leah Repenshek sells clothes she no longer wears on the resale app Depop.
“I take clothes out of my closet that I don’t tend to wear anymore and put pictures up and descriptions of them online to sell,” she said.
Repenshek said the reselling process is simple and easy to manage alongside school because it can be done entirely from her phone.
“It gives me some extra cash, which is helpful as a college student,” Repenshek said.
Some students leverage their academic and career interests to earn money.
UW-Madison junior Henry Gassen works as an independent personal trainer, guiding clients through personalized workout programs at either the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center or Nicholas Recreation Center. He said the job provides both income and valuable professional experience.
“RecWell offered a course on personal training, and I thought it would be good experience for my career as I am studying kinesiology right now,” Gassen said.
He said his schedule and income varies depending on his clients’ availability, but he enjoys the flexibility and tries to be adaptable with his clients.
“I make around $30 per session,” Gassen said. “I’m trying to pay for rent and groceries.”
Balancing side gigs and school can sometimes be challenging, but Gassen said the experience has helped him develop time management skills.
“There are more important things than just school, and getting real life experience is just as important, if not more important, to your success,” he said.
These nontraditional income sources can sometimes come with unanticipated drawbacks. For example, experts caution against donating plasma as a primary and consistent source of income.
According to the FDA, plasma donation is regulated to protect donor safety, as donors are not allowed to donate “more frequently than once in a 2-day (48 hours) period or twice in a 7-day period,” due to potential side effects, including fatigue, dehydration and dizziness.
As students take on more side gigs, financial aid experts said their growing popularity reflects the financial pressure many students face.
“Students are increasingly forced to juggle the costs of higher education, such as tuition, fees and course materials, alongside rising living expenses,” said Kasie Strahl, assistant director for student engagement at the Office of Student Financial Aid. “As housing prices climb in Madison and the cost of basic necessities continues to inflate, many students are experiencing heightened financial pressures.”
Strahl said more than 11,000 students currently hold part-time jobs at UW-Madison.
While side gigs can provide valuable additional income, Strahl encouraged students to consider sustainable work options and campus resources.
“If students are eligible for Federal Work Study, we encourage them to take advantage of that first by working in any on-campus job or with one of our many off-campus work study community partners,” Strahl said.
Despite these opportunities, many students believe side hustles provide flexibility and independence that traditional jobs might lack.
“Through my nail business, I am able to make my own schedule and get steady income all while maintaining my social life and overall freedom,” Kenney said. “I’m sure that's the reason why there are many nail businesses being run out of people’s homes in Madison.”
For Kenney, turning a creative hobby into a source of income has been both financially beneficial and personally rewarding.
“In my opinion, if there is something you are passionate about and talented at, it is completely worth it to pursue,” she said.
Staff Writer
