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Between books, tuition, and room & board, college is nothing if not expensive. Not to mention you’ve got to study, go to class, AND party a bit… so it’s not like you’ve got a ton of time to work a “real” part-time job. And sadly, drinking beer isn’t really a viable option to earn extra cash.
That’s where paid surveys come in. If you’ve never heard of paid surveys, here’s a detailed paid survey FAQ, but the short version is that you can participate in market research programs that will pay you for sharing your opinion.
And best of all, you can do paid surveys 24/7 without ever leaving your room, so you can earn some extra spending money whenever you please. All you need is an internet connection, some free time, and a willingness to share your honest opinion.
Choosing the Right Paid Survey Sites
If you are a student and looking to earn money taking paid surveys, finding the right survey sites to suit your needs is essential. Here are some key elements to consider before you decide which sites to join.
1. Find survey sites that pay cash
While many sites will reward you with gift cards or sweepstakes entries, most experienced paid survey takers will tell you that taking surveys for cash is the best option. That’s especially true if you’re looking for beer money, since you usually can’t buy beer with a gift card.
2. Find survey sites that pay fast
Another priority for professional survey takers is speed of payout. Many sites have prolonged processing periods that will keep you from receiving rewards for weeks, or even months, in many cases. It’s crucially important to find sites that pay cash by PayPal or Dwolla, have low cash-out thresholds ($10 or less), and can pay you within fourteen (14) days at the most.
3. Join sites that cater to younger users
There are hundreds of paid survey sites, but not all of them are seeking input from people in the age range of 18-24. If you join a site and find you’re not receiving many surveys, it’s time to move-on and seek sites looking for your demographic.
4. Join multiple sites to improve your earning potential
Never put all your eggs in one basket. You should always take a “multi-program approach” at first to see which ones work best for you. If you’re frequently on-the-go, then make sure at least a few of the sites you join offer an app available for your smartphone or tablet. More on this below.
5. Seek out high-paying focus groups
Input from college-age students is highly sought after by market research firms, making focus groups are a fantastic way to make some serious money. If you can qualify, you can make anywhere from $50-$300 per high-paying focus group. You’ll have to work harder for you money, typically a few hours each week worth of discussion groups, but the right focus group can really pad your bank account.
6. Make sure there’s an app for that
If you’re frequently on-the-go, be sure to join at least a few paid survey sites that offer an app for making money. And if you’ve truly lazy, there are even some passive income apps that pay you a bit for doing basically nothing.
7. Don’t fall for scams
This applies to pretty much everything in life, but if something sounds too good to be true it probably is. Be sure you know how to spot a paid survey scam before you get started. Some key things to look for are over-promising (e.g. $75 for a five minute survey) or asking you to pay to access paid survey sites.
The Top Paid Survey Sites for College Students
Here are some of the best paid survey sites for students like you who are looking to earn some beer money:
Rakuten Insight
Premium surveys from the cash-back shopping giant!
Cash-back shopping giant Rakuten has created it’s own survey panel! Take quick poignant surveys with a low cashout threshold of just $5.
QuickRewards
Join and receive payments within 24 hours
If you’re looking to get paid fast, Quick Rewards totally lives up to their name, processing rewards in just hours. Take surveys, read email, and watch videos for PayPal cash , Amazon gift codes and more. There is no minimum cash-out.!
Survey Roundtable
3,000 point registration bonus
Survey Roundtable gives you a variety of paid surveys and other activities to earn. You can watch and discuss movie trailers, talk about video games, or even test products in-home for gift cards and rewards.
Closing Thoughts
College students seeking to earn money with paid surveys are definitely ahead of the curve. With the right approach, you’ll find extra money you didn’t think existed before. Now go out and get started so you can enjoy all of the free beer you’re going to earn!
Written By
Robert Fleming
Robert Fleming
Robert Fleming is a 20-year veteran of the market research industry and now serves as co-CEO of Paid Survey Update which he co-founded in 2015. He resides in Myrtle Beach.