<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-06-10</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001593538</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NAVIENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NAVI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001451729</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HELEEN MARK L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>123 JUSTISON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WILMINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19801</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; Chief Legal Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-06-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1657</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>138055.4035</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6478.345</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As previously reported, on June 10, 2014, the reporting person was granted 9,920 restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) under the Navient Corporation 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan representing the right to receive shares of Navient common stock in the future, which vest in one-third increments on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant. On June 10, 2017, 3,307 shares of such RSUs were settled and an additional 468.4351 shares were issued to the reporting person upon the vesting of the related dividend equivalent rights. In connection with this settlement, 1,657 shares were withheld by Navient (as approved by the Navient Compensation and Personnel Committee) to satisfy the reporting person's tax withholding obligations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person's common stock balance includes 544 shares acquired under the Navient Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Dividend equivalent rights issued on unvested RSUs and PSUs are included in the reporting person's common stock holding balance.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Also reflects the disposition of 0.4351 shares settled in cash upon the delivery of the related dividend equivalent rights, in accordance with the terms of the 2014 Navient Corporation Omnibus Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Between February 20, 2017, and June 12, 2017 the reporting person acquired 73.1437 share equivalents of Navient common stock under the Navient 401(k) Savings Plan.  The information in this report is based on the reporting person's actual account balance as of June 12, 2017.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kurt T. Slawson (POA) for Mark L. Heleen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-06-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
