Allowance For Loan Losses (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Allowance for Loan Losses (Textuals) [Abstract]
Private Education Loans which at some point qualified for interest rate reduction since May 2009	$ 0	$ 444
Allowance related to Private Education Loans with interest rate reductions	0	114
Qualified interest rate reduction Private Education Loans in default	0	53
Dollar amount of private education loans that had qualified for the program and received a reduction in interest rate	$ 0	$ 257
Criteria for loans to be considered as nonperforming	Greater than 90 days past due
Original FICO score to be attended by profit schools to become eligible for Non-traditional loans	670
Original FICO score to be attended by not-for-profit schools to become eligible for Non-traditional loans	640