How I Made Money in College – Focus Groups and Research Studies

I officially graduated college one year ago. While there, I found all kinds of ways to make money. I took on campus jobs, I traded stocks (and happened to buy a share of AMZN at the right time) and sought out scholarships and grants. My favorite way, however, and the most lucrative was…

Research studies!

Alright, so that was spoiled by the title. It’s an SEO thing, I can’t help it. Anyway, point is, I busted my tush acting as a human guinea pig during college and squirreled away all the money. I’m going to teach you how you can do the same thing… maybe. At this point, I need to give a huge disclaimer. Your mileage may vary! I was able to make bank off these research studies, but your opportunities will differ depending on where you live, what kind of college you go to, and the demographics you fit into. I went to a large university in the middle of nowhere, so my opportunities were far different than someone attending a more specialized or smaller college. That being said, it doesn’t hurt to see what’s available in your area. You also don’t have to be currently enrolled in college to take advantage of these opportunities! If you live in or near a major city or university, you may also be able to get some of that focus group coin.

That’s enough talk. Let’s discuss the different research studies types, and the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Medical Studies

I’m going to be honest here. 90% of these kind of suck. You have to be real careful when enrolling in these, because you can actually harm yourself. You need to do diligent research to make sure you’re not getting screwed over. Read every piece of paperwork you receive. But, here’s the deal- you can make a lot of money off doing very little. There was an ongoing sleep study on campus where you’d sacrifice a weekend and make $1.5k+, just from sleeping in a lab. You can also get roped into something that costs you more time than it’s worth, so be careful and make sure you understand how much time and energy the study will consume before enrolling.

I’ve enrolled in several medical studies, but I was never able to qualify for the major, ongoing ones. Usually, you’re treated like cattle, but it’s fine. You’re getting paid- usually $20 an hour for the easy ones. I was always icked out by the more invasive, higher-paying gigs, so I missed out on a lot of pay opportunities. Medical studies don’t necessarily have to involve testing out a new drug or getting monitored constantly for a weekend. I’ve tried out medical devices such as calcium density testers and hydration monitors, I’ve had my blood drawn and tested for science, I’ve even been through psychiatric evaluations for pay.

To enroll in medical studies, look up your university’s medical department to see if they have a study portal available.

Food Studies

Ah. My absolute favorite kind of research study. Food corporations would enlist the food science department for research on variations of new products, and campus dining services would often test among the university populace before releasing a new food item. The pay is fine- $10-20 for 10 minutes of your time. Let’s be honest though, I never enrolled in these for the cash. No, I enrolled in these for the free meals. There were entire weeks where I would never pay for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I’d sign up online, take a brief survey, walk to the food science department, eat, rate the food, get cash, and leave. I’d usually be asked to compare a few versions of the same product, such as popcorn shrimp, chocolate milk, ice cream, hamburger meat, chicken soup, etc. There are also research studies that involve eating a meal or a certain food item several times.

The one main drawback is that the pay is generally lower because these don’t take much as time and there is zero risk involved. There is also the possibility that your food is gross, which has happened, and if you don’t like whatever’s being served, you kind of have to suck it up and try it anyway.

Contact your food science department or campus dining services to see if they have any taste test or dinner studies available.

Surveys

Surveys are pretty easy, and generally don’t pay too well. I don’t have much to say about surveys, as they’re pretty self explanatory – answer some questions and get paid. Don’t bother with any surveys where you only have a chance of getting paid. I earned nearly $500 from one survey opportunity, where I had to answer a questionnaire about my mood every single day for a long stretch of time.

I will say that you can sometimes find these on Craigslist or posted on bulletin boards.

Focus Groups

Focus Groups can be the most elusive. Sometimes, they’ve just fallen into my lap. Other times, I’ve applied to dozens with no luck. The pay is typically fantastic- hundreds of bucks for a couple hours of your time. Sometimes, colleges will offer internal focus groups, but often, you will have to apply to focus groups through an outside agency. Look up “focus groups {my city}” for an agency near you. Apply to as many as you qualify for, even if it sounds boring.

Bottom Line

College is the best time to subject your body to all sorts of weird guinea pig stuff. Why not get paid for it? If you have any questions, be sure to ask them below.