A mature age student is someone who attends higher education courses after the age of 21. If you're looking for synonyms for mature age student, commonly used terms are non-traditional students, adult learners or returning students. Non-traditional students are often recognized by their unique life experiences and the diverse perspectives they bring to the classroom. Adult learners emphasize the fact that such students are grown-up and self-motivated individuals who are seeking to further their knowledge. Finally, returning students indicate that such students have been out of the educational system for some time, and have decided to return to gain new skills and knowledge. These terms are interchangeable and recognize the value of students who commit to learning at any age.