The U.S. is in the early stages of a demographic development that will bring about radical changes in the higher education population. As the result of two phenomena--the retiring of the baby boomers (those born in the decade immediately following WW II) and the steadily increasing life expectancy--people are going to see a sharp and unprecedented increase in the size of the retirement-age population. That development offers a major growth opportunity to institutions of higher education in general, and to community colleges in particular. This new seniors market will consist of three groups: (1) College-educated people who have been in careers for three or four decades and are ready for a change--but not for retirement; (2) Blue-collar workers with little or no college education who also need a change, or who, although generally healthy, are no longer able to do manual work requiring considerable physical strength and stamina; and (3) People, who at the end of successful careers, have sufficient retirement income and little interest in pursuing new careers, but have a strong interest in education as recreation. This article discusses these three groups which will change the look of classrooms, and which represent a major opportunity for community colleges that position themselves to take advantage of it. (Contains 4 figures.)