CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Interest income:
Loans	$ 660,792	$ 527,257	$ 462,642
Investments	8,913	20,090	26,340
Cash and cash equivalents	4,589	3,853	2,299
Total interest income	674,294	551,200	491,281
Interest expense:
Deposits	95,774	88,019	82,173
Other interest expense	41	1,066	739
Total interest expense	95,815	89,085	82,912
Net interest income	578,479	462,115	408,369
Less: provisions for loan losses	85,529	69,339	66,116
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses	492,950	392,776	342,253
Noninterest income:
Gains on sales of loans, net	121,359	196,593	235,202
Gains on sales of securities	0	63,813	129
(Losses) gains on derivatives and hedging activities, net	(3,996)	640	(5,461)
Other	39,921	37,222	36,641
Total noninterest income	157,284	298,268	266,511
Expenses:
Compensation and benefits	129,709	106,799	109,575
Other operating expenses	145,172	163,675	144,195
Total operating expenses	274,881	270,474	253,770
Acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization expense	3,290	3,317	13,125
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses	38,311	726	0
Total expenses	316,482	274,517	266,895
Income before income tax expense	333,752	416,527	341,869
Income tax expense	139,967	158,934	126,143
Net income	193,785	257,593	215,726
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(434)	(1,352)	(1,894)
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation	194,219	258,945	217,620
Preferred stock dividends	12,933	0	0
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$ 181,286	$ 258,945	$ 217,620
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.59	$ 0.46
Average common shares outstanding (in shares)	423,970	440,108	476,118
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.58	$ 0.45
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	432,269	448,549	482,892