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Stock-Based Compensation Plans and Arrangements Stock-Based Compensation Plans and Arrangements - Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Details) (Employee Stock Purchase Plan, USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
     
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Risk-free interest rate 0.13%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= slm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
0.15%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= slm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
0.13%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= slm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
Expected volatility 25.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= slm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
29.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= slm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
29.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= slm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
Expected dividend rate 0.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= slm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
3.51%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= slm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
3.27%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= slm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
Expected life of the option 1 year 1 year 1 year
Weighted average fair value of stock purchase rights $ 1.66us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= slm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
$ 2.95us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= slm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
$ 3.01us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= slm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember