From the plains of the American Midwest to the big cities on either coast, Chinese students are not only changing the cultural landscape of American colleges, they’re also fuelling an economic boom. The IIE believes that Chinese students last year injected a staggering $9.8bn into the US economy through tuition and fees, and the proof of their purchasing power is more evident than ever in the towns in which they study.

The dream car salesman

New York City is a common point of entry for many Chinese students arriving in the US, and Shanghai-native Nicholas Lam is often one of the first people they meet after they land. Lam graduated from Stony Brook University on Long Island in 2013 and has built a small empire selling Chinese students new and used luxury cars though his company New York Auto Depot.

The 25-year-old admits that he didn’t know much about cars when he first moved to the US in 2009. “But after purchasing one at a price that I later found out was very unfair I decided to learn everything I could and start my own business,” he explained.