CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Interest income:
Loans	$ 817,120	$ 660,792	$ 527,257
Investments	10,247	8,913	20,090
Cash and cash equivalents	3,751	4,589	3,853
Total interest income	831,118	674,294	551,200
Interest expense:
Deposits	116,386	95,774	88,019
Interest expense on short-term borrowings	6,490	0	0
Interest expense on long-term borrowings	5,738	0	0
Other interest expense	5	41	1,066
Total interest expense	128,619	95,815	89,085
Net interest income	702,499	578,479	462,115
Less: provisions for credit losses	90,055	85,529	69,339
Net interest income after provisions for credit losses	612,444	492,950	392,776
Non-interest income:
Gains on sales of loans, net	135,358	121,359	196,593
Gains on sales of securities	0	0	63,813
Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net	5,300	(3,996)	640
Other	41,935	39,921	37,222
Total non-interest income	182,593	157,284	298,268
Expenses:
Compensation and benefits	158,975	129,709	106,799
Other operating expenses	190,120	145,172	163,675
Total operating expenses	349,095	274,881	270,474
Acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization expense	1,480	3,290	3,317
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses	5,398	38,311	726
Total expenses	355,973	316,482	274,517
Income before income tax expense	439,064	333,752	416,527
Income tax expense	164,780	139,967	158,934
Net income	274,284	193,785	257,593
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	(434)	(1,352)
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation	274,284	194,219	258,945
Preferred stock dividends	19,595	12,933	0
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$ 254,689	$ 181,286	$ 258,945
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.43	$ 0.59
Average common shares outstanding (in shares)	425,574	423,970	440,108
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0.59	$ 0.42	$ 0.58
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	432,234	432,269	448,549