Perpetual student
A perpetual student or career student is a college or university attendee who re-enrolls for several years more than is necessary to obtain a given degree.
Examples
Johnny Lechner has been attending the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater since 1994. He was scheduled to graduate in 2008 with multiple majors and minors, but continued into a 15th year of college.
Benjamin Bolger, who received his first four-year degree from the University of Michigan, claims to be the second most credentialed student in modern history, with twenty seven degrees.
Michael Nicholson has 30 degrees, including 19 master's degrees and one doctorate.
Milton De Jesús has been a student at the University of Puerto Rico since 1963. Mr. De Jesús was recently interviewed by the newspaper, since he is the only student at the campus that can make comparisons among the 2010 student strikes and the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and 2005 strikes. It is not certain if he has a degree.
Joshua Coene has a BA that took 10 years, a PhD that took 12 years (in English-language sources), and is going for another degree, which he hopes to complete before retirement.