How to Make Money from Chegg

With the rising costs of college tuition and expenses, students are looking for ways to earn extra money to help pay for their education. One popular option is working for the company Chegg.

Chegg provides various services to help students, including textbook rentals, homework help, online tutoring, and more. They also offer opportunities for students to earn money through their platform.

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Rise Costs of College Education

Over the past several decades, the costs associated with attending college in the United States have increased dramatically. According to research from the National Center for Education Statistics, from 1988 to 2018:

The average tuition and fees at public 4-year institutions rose by 213%
The average tuition and fees at private nonprofit 4-year institutions rose by 129%
The overall Consumer Price Index rose by 118%

On top of rising tuition, students also have to pay for housing, textbooks, transportation, food, and other expenses associated with attending college. Many take out student loans. The outstanding student loan debt in America now tops $1.5 trillion across over 44 million borrowers.

With such high college costs, students are looking for ways to earn money that can help make ends meet. Working for Chegg represents one way for students to offset some of their expenses.

Eligibility and Limitations for Earning Money from Chegg

Acceptable and Unacceptable Activities

Chegg provides a few different ways for students to earn money by helping other students. However, there are rules regarding what types of activities are allowed or prohibited when earning money through Chegg’s platform.

Acceptable money-making activities on Chegg include:

Answering homework questions posted by other students
Providing tutoring services in academic subjects you are knowledgeable in
Selling used textbooks through the Chegg textbook buyback program
Referring friends to sign up for Chegg (you get a referral bonus)

Unacceptable activities that could get you banned from earning money on Chegg include:

Copying solutions from textbooks or other sources
Providing answers lacking explanation or working through problems
Working on homework questions with friends or getting outside help
Sharing personal contact information with students

It is important to maintain academic integrity when earning money on Chegg. Help others learn, but do not simply give out answers. Chegg monitors all content and interactions closely to ensure quality standards.

Restrictions on Paid Educational Credits

Chegg awards “educational credits” for certain teaching and tutoring activities on their platform. However, there are some restrictions regarding these paid credits that those earning money through Chegg should be aware of.

Some restrictions include:

Must earn a minimum of 5 educational credits per month to qualify for payout
Credits expire after one year if not redeemed
Credits can only be redeemed for cash payments to a PayPal account or donated to a charity
Tutors must maintain high student satisfaction ratings to continue earning credits

Additionally, Chegg reserves the right to ban users from earning further educational credits if they violate policies regarding academic integrity or quality standards.

So while earning paid credits can provide nice financial incentives, tutors need to ensure they follow all rules and offer truly helpful content to continue qualifying and remain in good standing.

How to Earn Money from Chegg

Earn Points through Various Activities

Chegg offers a point-and-credit system where students can earn money by completing various academic activities on the platform. Points can then be redeemed either for PayPal cash payments or donations to charity.

Some ways to earn points include:

Answering study questions – By providing detailed, thoughtful explanations to questions posted by other students, you can rack up points.
Tutoring – Earn credits by tutoring students one-on-one in your areas of expertise.
Creating study guides – Write summaries, cheat sheets, flashcards, and other study aids to earn points.
Referrals – Get bonus points for each friend you convince to sign up for Chegg services.

Chegg has paid out over $20 million to students through their education credits and textbook buyback programs. So with some time and effort devoted to helping peers, you can defray some of your educational expenses.

Sell Textbooks and Other Opportunities

In addition to earning points for academic activities, Chegg also presents opportunities to make money by selling used textbooks and other items.

Chegg’s textbook buyback program allows students to sell books they no longer need. You simply enter the ISBN and condition of your book and Chegg will provide a quote. If you accept the offer, they provide free shipping labels and send payments after receiving your books

In addition to textbooks, Chegg also allows students to sell:

Old class notes
Study guides
Lesson plans
Flashcards
Practice tests

So if you have any academic materials that helped you succeed in your completed coursework, consider selling them on Chegg to help new students and earn some money at the same time.

Benefits of Earning Money from Chegg

Financial Incentives for Students

For high school and college students facing rising costs, being able to earn money through Chegg provides valuable financial benefits.

The key financial perks include:

Extra income – Money earned can help pay for tuition, textbooks, housing, and other expenses.
Loan relief – Less need for borrowing cuts down on future student loan payments.
Scholarship chances – Income can enable some students to qualify for more scholarships.
Spending money – Even small amounts earned provide students with more day-to-day spending ability.

With many students already working jobs while enrolled, having a way to earn money remotely by studying makes Chegg attractive. The ability to cash educational credits out to PayPal also makes accessing and spending earnings convenient.

Contribution to Affording College Expenses

While Chegg payouts likely won’t fully cover college costs, they can make an important contribution and impact:

Cover cost of monthly supplies – Earned money can pay for notebooks, pens, calculators, etc.
Textbook purchases/rentals – Used Chegg credits for up to $1,000 a year in free textbooks.
Pay down interest costs – Avoid compounding interest charges by paying down loans now.
Fund semester housing – Put your earnings towards dorm or apartment expenses.

Considering the average student has nearly $30,000 in debt upon graduation, coming out with even a few thousand less thanks to Chegg earnings can be significant. That’s less debt accumulating interest over time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much money can I earn from Chegg?

Most students earn between $200 to $1,000 per year. Top performers make over $3,000. Much depends on your expertise level, hours committed, and student demand.

When and how do I get paid by Chegg?

You need to accumulate 5 educational credits first. After that, payments are sent to your linked PayPal account on the 1st of each month.

Do I need to report Chegg’s income on my taxes?

Yes, Chegg will issue you a 1099 form if you earn over $600 per year. This income needs to be reported to the IRS and your state.

Is there a minimum age/education level to earn from Chegg?

You generally have to be over 18 and enrolled in high school or college to be eligible as a Chegg tutor or to cash out earnings.

Chegg has some rules and restrictions, but it remains a very viable source of income for high school and college students who want to earn money to help achieve their academic goals and make their education more affordable.

Conclusion

With college costs and student debt on the rise, platforms like Chegg provide opportunities for students to earn money that can reduce their overall borrowing burden.

For any student who finds themselves struggling with affordability or seeking ways to pay their way through school, Chegg is worth exploring. The ability to earn a few thousand dollars per year by answering academic questions or selling used textbooks is important.