Maximum contribution amount per employee to ESPP.

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- Definition

Maximum term for stock options, in years.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of Compensation Plans

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Offering period of employee stock purchase plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

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- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Discount rate from fair value on offering date that participants pay for shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)(2)(iii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The number of shares purchased on the open market during the period for issuance to employees under the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Percentage of vesting of share-based compensation awards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Stock-Based Compensation Plans and Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) compensation_plan shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares	Jun. 25, 2014 shares	May 24, 2012 shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of active stock-based compensation plans \| compensation_plan	1
Stock-based compensation cost	$ 22,944,000	$ 21,598,000	$ 24,971,000
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 14,800,000
Weighted average period for total unrecognized compensation cost	1 year 4 months 15 days
Vesting period	3 years
Options granted in period (in shares) \| shares	0	0
Offering period of employee stock purchase plan	12 months
Maximum contribution amount per employee to ESPP	$ 7,500
SLM Corporation 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized to be issued under plan (in shares) \| shares	25,000,000
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized to be issued under plan (in shares) \| shares				15,000,000	6,000,000
Unrecognized compensation cost		$ 200,000
Vesting period	1 year
Percentage of discount available to employees under ESPP	15.00%
Expected dividend rate	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Company's common stock purchased by ESPP participants (in shares) \| shares	0	163,136	0
Grants made prior to 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum term for stock options (in years)	10 years
Grants made in 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum term for stock options (in years)	5 years
Performance Vesting Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years
Performance Vesting Stock Options \| Tranche 1
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting percentage per year of performance-vested options granted to management	33.33%
Performance Vesting Stock Options \| Tranche 2
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting percentage per year of performance-vested options granted to management	33.33%
Performance Vesting Stock Options \| Tranche 3
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting percentage per year of performance-vested options granted to management	33.33%
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 400,000
Weighted average period for total unrecognized compensation cost	6 months
Vesting period	1 year
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years