Segment Reporting (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Interest income:
Student Loans	$ 1,450,000,000	$ 1,451,000,000	$ 2,931,000,000	$ 2,823,000,000
Other loans	5,393,000	7,254,000	11,304,000	16,250,000
Cash and investments	4,743,000	6,299,000	10,082,000	11,248,000
Total interest income	1,459,834,000	1,464,855,000	2,952,395,000	2,850,716,000
Net interest income (loss)	868,407,000	895,922,000	1,766,373,000	1,750,399,000
Less: provisions for loan losses	290,686,000	382,239,000	594,091,000	741,359,000
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses	577,721,000	513,683,000	1,172,282,000	1,009,040,000
Servicing revenue	92,600,000	98,740,000	190,852,000	221,012,000
Contingency revenue	85,617,000	88,172,000	163,998,000	168,484,000
Gains on debt repurchases		91,000,000	38,000,000	181,000,000
Other income (loss)	(507,000,000)	89,000,000	(727,000,000)	30,000,000
Total other income	(328,060,000)	367,314,000	(333,661,000)	600,022,000
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	199,000,000	243,000,000	424,000,000	468,000,000
Overhead expenses	69,000,000	66,000,000	148,000,000	129,000,000
Operating expenses	268,719,000	309,729,000	571,919,000	597,364,000
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization	6,063,000	9,710,000	12,127,000	19,422,000
Restructuring expenses	1,594,000	17,808,000	5,155,000	42,612,000
Total expenses	276,376,000	337,247,000	589,201,000	659,398,000
Total interest expense	591,427,000	568,933,000	1,186,022,000	1,100,317,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	(26,715,000)	543,750,000	249,420,000	949,664,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	(9,585,000)	198,978,000	90,126,000	358,138,000
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(17,130,000)	344,772,000	159,294,000	591,526,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	11,482,000	(6,954,000)	9,752,000	(13,568,000)
Net income (loss)	(5,648,000)	337,818,000	169,046,000	577,958,000
FFELP Loans [Member]
Interest income:
Student Loans	721,000,000	744,000,000	1,457,000,000	1,386,000,000
Cash and investments	1,000,000	2,000,000	2,000,000	4,000,000
Total interest income	722,000,000	746,000,000	1,459,000,000	1,390,000,000
Net interest income (loss)	365,000,000	364,000,000	733,000,000	672,000,000
Less: provisions for loan losses	23,000,000	29,000,000	46,000,000	52,000,000
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses	342,000,000	335,000,000	687,000,000	620,000,000
Servicing revenue	21,000,000	15,000,000	46,000,000	36,000,000
Total other income	21,000,000	15,000,000	46,000,000	36,000,000
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	192,000,000	187,000,000	387,000,000	375,000,000
Operating expenses	192,000,000	187,000,000	387,000,000	375,000,000
Restructuring expenses		15,000,000	1,000,000	33,000,000
Total expenses	192,000,000	202,000,000	388,000,000	408,000,000
Total interest expense	357,000,000	382,000,000	726,000,000	718,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	171,000,000	148,000,000	345,000,000	248,000,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	63,000,000	53,000,000	127,000,000	89,000,000
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	108,000,000	95,000,000	218,000,000	159,000,000
Net income (loss)	108,000,000	95,000,000	218,000,000	159,000,000
Consumer Lending [Member]
Interest income:
Student Loans	600,000,000	575,000,000	1,204,000,000	1,141,000,000
Cash and investments	2,000,000	4,000,000	5,000,000	6,000,000
Total interest income	602,000,000	579,000,000	1,209,000,000	1,147,000,000
Net interest income (loss)	401,000,000	396,000,000	810,000,000	791,000,000
Less: provisions for loan losses	265,000,000	349,000,000	540,000,000	674,000,000
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses	136,000,000	47,000,000	270,000,000	117,000,000
Servicing revenue	15,000,000	21,000,000	32,000,000	41,000,000
Total other income	15,000,000	21,000,000	32,000,000	41,000,000
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	73,000,000	86,000,000	155,000,000	166,000,000
Operating expenses	73,000,000	86,000,000	155,000,000	166,000,000
Restructuring expenses	1,000,000	1,000,000	2,000,000	3,000,000
Total expenses	74,000,000	87,000,000	157,000,000	169,000,000
Total interest expense	201,000,000	183,000,000	399,000,000	356,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	77,000,000	(19,000,000)	145,000,000	(11,000,000)
Income tax expense (benefit)	28,000,000	(7,000,000)	54,000,000	(4,000,000)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	49,000,000	(12,000,000)	91,000,000	(7,000,000)
Net income (loss)	49,000,000	(12,000,000)	91,000,000	(7,000,000)
Business Services [Member]
Interest income:
Cash and investments	2,000,000	4,000,000	5,000,000	8,000,000
Total interest income	2,000,000	4,000,000	5,000,000	8,000,000
Net interest income (loss)	2,000,000	4,000,000	5,000,000	8,000,000
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses	2,000,000	4,000,000	5,000,000	8,000,000
Servicing revenue	244,000,000	228,000,000	489,000,000	473,000,000
Contingency revenue	86,000,000	88,000,000	164,000,000	168,000,000
Other income (loss)	11,000,000	13,000,000	21,000,000	24,000,000
Total other income	341,000,000	329,000,000	674,000,000	665,000,000
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	121,000,000	133,000,000	249,000,000	252,000,000
Operating expenses	121,000,000	133,000,000	249,000,000	252,000,000
Restructuring expenses		2,000,000	1,000,000	5,000,000
Total expenses	121,000,000	135,000,000	250,000,000	257,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	222,000,000	198,000,000	429,000,000	416,000,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	82,000,000	71,000,000	158,000,000	149,000,000
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	140,000,000	127,000,000	271,000,000	267,000,000
Net income (loss)	140,000,000	127,000,000	271,000,000	267,000,000
Other Segment [Member]
Interest income:
Other loans	5,000,000	7,000,000	11,000,000	16,000,000
Cash and investments	2,000,000	1,000,000	3,000,000	1,000,000
Total interest income	7,000,000	8,000,000	14,000,000	17,000,000
Net interest income (loss)	(7,000,000)	(3,000,000)	(15,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Less: provisions for loan losses	3,000,000	4,000,000	8,000,000	15,000,000
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses	(10,000,000)	(7,000,000)	(23,000,000)	(19,000,000)
Gains on debt repurchases		91,000,000	64,000,000	181,000,000
Other income (loss)	3,000,000		6,000,000	11,000,000
Total other income	3,000,000	91,000,000	70,000,000	192,000,000
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses		2,000,000	9,000,000	4,000,000
Overhead expenses	69,000,000	66,000,000	148,000,000	129,000,000
Operating expenses	69,000,000	68,000,000	157,000,000	133,000,000
Restructuring expenses	1,000,000		1,000,000	2,000,000
Total expenses	70,000,000	68,000,000	158,000,000	135,000,000
Total interest expense	14,000,000	11,000,000	29,000,000	21,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	(77,000,000)	16,000,000	(111,000,000)	38,000,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	(29,000,000)	8,000,000	(41,000,000)	18,000,000
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(48,000,000)	8,000,000	(70,000,000)	20,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	11,000,000	(7,000,000)	10,000,000	(14,000,000)
Net income (loss)	(37,000,000)	1,000,000	(60,000,000)	6,000,000
Eliminations [Member]
Interest income:
Cash and investments	(2,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(5,000,000)	(8,000,000)
Total interest income	(2,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(5,000,000)	(8,000,000)
Servicing revenue	(187,000,000)	(165,000,000)	(376,000,000)	(329,000,000)
Total other income	(187,000,000)	(165,000,000)	(376,000,000)	(329,000,000)
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	(187,000,000)	(165,000,000)	(376,000,000)	(329,000,000)
Operating expenses	(187,000,000)	(165,000,000)	(376,000,000)	(329,000,000)
Total expenses	(187,000,000)	(165,000,000)	(376,000,000)	(329,000,000)
Total interest expense	(2,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(5,000,000)	(8,000,000)
Total "Core Earnings" [Member]
Interest income:
Student Loans	1,321,000,000	1,319,000,000	2,661,000,000	2,527,000,000
Other loans	5,000,000	7,000,000	11,000,000	16,000,000
Cash and investments	5,000,000	7,000,000	10,000,000	11,000,000
Total interest income	1,331,000,000	1,333,000,000	2,682,000,000	2,554,000,000
Net interest income (loss)	761,000,000	761,000,000	1,533,000,000	1,467,000,000
Less: provisions for loan losses	291,000,000	382,000,000	594,000,000	741,000,000
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses	470,000,000	379,000,000	939,000,000	726,000,000
Servicing revenue	93,000,000	99,000,000	191,000,000	221,000,000
Contingency revenue	86,000,000	88,000,000	164,000,000	168,000,000
Gains on debt repurchases		91,000,000	64,000,000	181,000,000
Other income (loss)	14,000,000	13,000,000	27,000,000	35,000,000
Total other income	193,000,000	291,000,000	446,000,000	605,000,000
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	199,000,000	243,000,000	424,000,000	468,000,000
Overhead expenses	69,000,000	66,000,000	148,000,000	129,000,000
Operating expenses	268,000,000	309,000,000	572,000,000	597,000,000
Restructuring expenses	2,000,000	18,000,000	5,000,000	43,000,000
Total expenses	270,000,000	327,000,000	577,000,000	640,000,000
Total interest expense	570,000,000	572,000,000	1,149,000,000	1,087,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	393,000,000	343,000,000	808,000,000	691,000,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	144,000,000	125,000,000	298,000,000	252,000,000
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	249,000,000	218,000,000	510,000,000	439,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	11,000,000	(7,000,000)	10,000,000	(14,000,000)
Net income (loss)	260,000,000	211,000,000	520,000,000	425,000,000
Adjustment [Member]
Interest income:
Student Loans	129,000,000	132,000,000	270,000,000	296,000,000
Total interest income	129,000,000	132,000,000	270,000,000	296,000,000
Net interest income (loss)	107,000,000	135,000,000	233,000,000	283,000,000
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses	107,000,000	135,000,000	233,000,000	283,000,000
Gains on debt repurchases			(26,000,000)
Other income (loss)	(521,000,000)	76,000,000	(754,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Total other income	(521,000,000)	76,000,000	(780,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Expenses:
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets impairment and amortization	6,000,000	10,000,000	12,000,000	19,000,000
Total expenses	6,000,000	10,000,000	12,000,000	19,000,000
Total interest expense	22,000,000	(3,000,000)	37,000,000	13,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	(420,000,000)	201,000,000	(559,000,000)	259,000,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	(154,000,000)	74,000,000	(208,000,000)	106,000,000
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(266,000,000)	127,000,000	(351,000,000)	153,000,000
Net income (loss)	$ (266,000,000)	$ 127,000,000	$ (351,000,000)	$ 153,000,000