This review of demographic data and the educational literature on collee enrollment trends describes several population trends and assesses their anticipated effect on community college enrollments in Massachusetts. In section I, the argument is presented that the two-year colleges face a potentially unprecedented enrollment decline which, depending upon location, could be more severe than that facing any other segment of higher education. Section II reviews census data and population studies to assess the extent of the anticipated decline in the traditional college-aged population. After a discussion of national trends, statistics are presented indicating that Massachusetts will not have the same resurgence in the college-aged population that the rest of the nation can expect by the end of the century. Section III considers the effect of the decline on community colleges and reports the American Council on Education's suggestions for strategies that could potentially offset the decline in the student pool. This section also contains an analysis of potential dangers which may prove the optimistic projections held by many for the community college's future to be wrong. Warnings are offered that adult attendance may level off or even decline as the employment situation improves and the baby boomers move into middle age; and that community colleges can expect increased competition from other segments of higher education for students and funding. Section IV highlights the particular position of the Massachusetts community colleges, looking at structural weaknesses, current policies of the Board of Regents, differentiated mission statements, and admissions standards. Finally, section V offers conclusions and recommendations in the areas of policy enforcement and budgetary issues. (EJV)