This research brief discusses racial and ethnic trends in college enrollment and participation since the mid-1970s, focusing on Black, Hispanic, Asian American, and American Indian students. Data are provided in text and tables, on the following topics: (1) potential supply of higher education students; (2) Scholastic Aptitude Test averages by race and ethnicity from 1982 to 1988; (3) total enrollment in higher education by gender, ethnic group, and institution type, from 1976 to 1986; and (4) graduate and professional school enrollment by ethnic group. Highlights of the data include: though total enrollment of these groups has increased, a smaller percentage of Black and Hispanic high school graduates were enrolled in college in 1988 than in the mid-1970s; increases in Black, Hispanic, and American Indian enrollment tended to be concentrated in two-year institutions; and from 1976 to 1986, Black males actually lost ground in college attendance by 34,000 students. Policy and research recommendations for addressing this situation focus on the need to improve the academic skills of school-age children and to develop comprehensive approaches in higher education to reverse the declining participation of underrepresented groups. (Contains four end notes, three data resources, and nine references.) (JDD)