With college comes lots of financial strain which creates added stress for many students. Tuition varies for each student, but the University of Minnesota Duluth’s estimated cost of attendance is around $28,000 every year for Minnesota residents living on or off campus. That’s including a $2,000 estimation for personal or miscellaneous spending. 

Many students can barely pay tuition, let alone have enough money left over for things they want to do. Some students go on a ramen diet or take the bus to school every day to save as much money as they can. Many have a job or multiple while still being a full-time student. 

Living as a college student is becoming more and more difficult as housing and food costs rise. According to a survey commissioned by Neighbor.com and conducted by Pollfish in 2022, 61% of college students have less than $1,000 and 21% have less than $100 in the bank.

Another survey found that 67% of students are solely responsible for the costs of college. This makes graduating with debt a guarantee for many. Some students have fallen back to gig work to make some extra money. 

One way that college students have found helpful in gaining a good amount of cash is to donate plasma.

Plasma is the cell free part of blood composed of water, proteins, electrolytes, lipids (fat) and carbohydrates. It is a clear-yellow liquid that makes up the majority of our blood and is approximately 92% water. Plasma suspends blood cells and helps transport antibodies, nutrients and waste through the body. Blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, which are all suspended in plasma. 

It performs a variety of functions. The biggest one is it serves as a transport system for our bodies. It carries proteins, nutrients, hormones, waste products, drugs and other elements throughout our bodies. 

Plasma is critical to maintaining the fluidity of blood. Plasma helps clot blood when there has been a cut. It works to fight disease as well as carry electrolytes to our muscles. It is also important because it helps our cells to function by maintaining the correct pH balance. 

Plasma is rich in nutrients and salts that are important for keeping the body alert and functioning properly. Donating plasma and losing some of these substances can lead to an electrolyte imbalance that can result in dizziness, fainting and lightheadedness. 

The common side effects of donating plasma are usually minor, like fatigue and dehydration. Although, there are other issues that may occur. For example, bruising around the needle site often appears because a small amount of your blood may leak into surrounding soft tissues. 

Another event that may take place is an arterial puncture. This is rare, but not impossible. It happens when the technician hits an artery with the needle instead of a vein. This can be painful as arteries have thicker walls with muscle tissue and veins have thinner walls. 

Alana McClain, a student at UMD, started donating her sophomore year and soon had a difficult ordeal. “I had a bad experience where I had two complications on the same visit,” McClain said. “I was punctured through my vein on the first attempt and wasn’t able to receive my lost cells that I needed, so they had to reinsert into my other arm where they hit an artery. I haven’t noticed any major side effects other than those associated with my complications, such as lightheadedness, drowsiness, and nausea.”

With all the side effects and necessary functions that plasma provides, why risk donating it? Because plasma has the ability to replenish. The protein, water and salts we consume absorb through the digestive tracts where they can be passed into plasma and transported to other parts of the body. 

It only takes 24 to 48 hours after donating for the plasma to be restored. Drinking water and staying hydrated speeds up this process. 

Donating plasma can be just as beneficial for you as it would be for the patients you end up helping. Not only are you saving lives, but you are getting even more advantages.

Plasma is used in a number of ways in medicine. Plasma transfusion is a widely used treatment among critically-ill patients suffering from liver failure, serious burns and severe infections. Patients who receive plasma protein therapies like clotting factors and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) will also need to rely on your donation, considering that plasma cannot be produced synthetically.

According to ABO Plasma, doctors prescribe plasma-derived medication in order to treat around 100 different diseases through replacement therapy, the correction of a protein imbalance or continuous supplementation.

Regardless of how regularly you donate, a small donation can make a massive impact on the lives of the patients that receive medication derived from your plasma. 

Donating plasma may even be good for you. Studies have shown that the collection process for plasma can clean the blood, which helps regulate cholesterol in the blood and decrease your risk of heart disease.

At the start of each appointment you will be asked to go through a screening process to confirm your donation eligibility. You will go through several tests to check your blood pressure, pulse/heart rate and your blood. It is important to know this information regarding your health. 

In addition, when you’re donating plasma, your body releases endorphins, which can improve your mood and lower your stress. This helps explain why some people who donate feel less anxious after their session has been completed.

Another reason some might feel less stress after donating is because of the payment. Everyone’s reason for donating is different, but in the end, majority of people do it for the extra money, especially college students. Compensation does depend on weight, but for your first two donations it’s in the range of $90 to $120 each time.

UMD student, Carrie Warmka, has been donating her plasma since February 2023. “I started donating so I could get some extra money to spend on fun things,” Warmka said. “I have used my money for a variety of things, including groceries, coffee and craft supplies.”

Another UMD student started donating to have money to pay for gas and go out with friends. “I don't have much time to work during the week, so donating helped relieve financial stress,” this student said. 

There is no doubt this is a great way to earn some extra cash, and not just for college students, but for everyone ages 18 to 74 who weigh at least 110 pounds. 

CSL Plasma is where many students in Duluth go to donate. “The staff are really nice,” Warmka said. CSL Plasma is located at 106 W. Superior Street, Duluth.

CSL Plasma sees a lot of college students throughout the year, but they get very busy during the holiday season. Many donors save the money to buy Christmas presents for friends and family. 

“When considering whether or not you want to donate, keep in mind that you will likely have a frustrating experience at least once,” McClain said. “Having the right motivations is helpful for staying on top of it. However, you can always donate once and decide if you want to come back.”

You don’t have to do it alone either. “I’d advise to go with friends if you are nervous, then you can all earn money together!” Warmka said. 

Best of all, it will only take about an hour of your time to make a difference in people’s lives and an addition to your wallet.