SLM (SLM) 10-Q 28 Oct 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	SLM CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	1032033
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	436,264,071

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Assets
FFELP Loans	$106,350	$125,612
Private Education Loans	37,752	36,934
Investments
Available-for-sale	85	72
Other	911	1,010
Total investments	996	1,082
Cash and cash equivalents	4,329	3,900
Restricted cash and investments	4,287	5,011
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets, net	436	448
Other assets	7,420	8,273
Total assets	161,570	181,260
Liabilities
Short-term borrowings	15,572	19,856
Long-term borrowings	136,944	152,401
Other liabilities	3,422	3,937
Total liabilities	155,938	176,194
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred stock, par value $0.20 per share, 20 million shares authorized
Common stock, par value $0.20 per share, 1.125 billion shares authorized: 544 million and 536 million shares issued, respectively	109	107
Additional paid-in capital	4,373	4,237
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (net of tax (expense) benefit of $(5) and $3, respectively)	8	-6
Retained earnings	2,385	1,451
Total SLM Corporation stockholders' equity before treasury stock	7,440	6,354
Less: Common stock held in treasury at cost: 108 million and 83 million shares, respectively	-1,813	-1,294
Total SLM Corporation stockholders' equity	5,627	5,060
Noncontrolling interest	5	6
Total equity	5,632	5,066
Total liabilities and equity	161,570	181,260
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value $0.20 per share, 20 million shares authorized
Preferred stock, shares issued, at stated value	165	165
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value $0.20 per share, 20 million shares authorized
Preferred stock, shares issued, at stated value	400	400
Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member]
Assets
FFELP Loans	101,627	121,059
Private Education Loans	26,018	26,072
Investments
Restricted cash and investments	4,044	4,826
Other assets	2,380	2,312
Liabilities
Short-term borrowings	4,678	9,551
Long-term borrowings	116,968	131,518
Net assets of consolidated variable interest entities	$12,423	$13,200

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Allowance for FFELP Loans Losses	$130	$159
Allowance for private education loans losses	2,144	2,171
Preferred stock, stated value	$0.20	$0.20
Preferred stock, shares authorized	20	20
Common stock, par value	$0.20	$0.20
Common stock, shares authorized	1,125	1,125
Common stock, shares issued	544	536
Tax effect for accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	($5)	$3
Common stock held in treasury	108	83
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, stated value	$50	$50
Preferred stock, shares issued	3.3	3.3
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, stated value	$100	$100
Preferred stock, shares issued	4	4

Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc

Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Interest income:
FFELP Loans	$698	$840	$2,138	$2,459
Private Education Loans	635	615	1,884	1,856
Other loans	3	4	9	13
Cash and investments	4	5	13	16
Total interest income	1,340	1,464	4,044	4,344
Total interest expense	541	645	1,666	1,968
Net interest income	799	819	2,378	2,376
Less: provisions for loan losses	207	270	649	766
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses	592	549	1,729	1,610
Other income (loss):
Gains on sales of loans and investments			307	1
Losses on derivative and hedging activities, net	-127	-233	-140	-600
Servicing revenue	83	71	223	212
Contingency revenue	104	85	312	261
Gains on debt repurchases		44	42	102
Other	9	2	66	39
Total other income (loss)	69	-31	810	15
Expenses:
Salaries and benefits	128	113	380	343
Other operating expenses	129	107	357	329
Total operating expenses	257	220	737	672
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization expense	4	5	10	13
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses	12	2	46	9
Total expenses	273	227	793	694
Income from continuing operations, before income tax expense	388	291	1,746	931
Income tax expense	136	104	645	340
Net income from continuing operations	252	187	1,101	591
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)	8		47	-2
Net income	260	187	1,148	589
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		-1	-1	-2
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	260	188	1,149	591
Preferred stock dividends	5	5	15	15
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$255	$183	$1,134	$576
Basic earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation:
Continuing operations	$0.56	$0.39	$2.46	$1.19
Discontinued operations	$0.02		$0.10
Total	$0.58	$0.39	$2.56	$1.19
Average common shares outstanding	436	464	442	483
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to SLM Corporation:
Continuing operations	$0.55	$0.39	$2.42	$1.18
Discontinued operations	$0.02		$0.10
Total	$0.57	$0.39	$2.52	$1.18
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding	445	471	450	490
Dividends per common share attributable to SLM Corporation	$0.15	$0.13	$0.45	$0.38

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$260	$187	$1,148	$589
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized hedging gains (losses) on derivatives	-3	-3	19	-14
Reclassification adjustments for derivative losses included in net income (interest expense)	1	6	7	22
Total unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives	-2	3	26	8
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments			-4	1
Income tax (expense) benefit	1	-1	-8	-3
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-1	2	14	6
Comprehensive income	259	189	1,162	595
Less: comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		-1	-1	-2
Total comprehensive income attributable to SLM Corporation	$259	$190	$1,163	$597

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cha

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Common Stock Shares Outstanding [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Total Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Total Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Total Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)		USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	USD ($)	Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	USD ($)
											USD ($)	USD ($)		USD ($)	USD ($)
Beginning Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2011	$5,251			$565	$106	($320)		$4,136	($14)	$770			$5,243			$8
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011				7,300,000	529,075,322	-20,323,997	508,751,325
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	589									591			591			-2
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	6								6				6
Total comprehensive income	595												597			-2
Cash dividends:
Common stock	-180									-180			-180
Preferred stock		-8	-7								-8	-7		-8	-7
Dividend equivalent units related to employee stock-based compensation plans	-1									-1			-1
Issuance of common shares	48				1			47					48
Issuance of common shares, shares	5,252,158				5,252,158		5,252,158
Tax benefit related to employee stock-based compensation plans	-5							-5					-5
Stock-based compensation expense	41							41					41
Common stock repurchased	-730					-730							-730
Common stock repurchased, shares					-48,184,145	-48,184,145	-48,184,145
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	-58					-58							-58
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans, shares	-3,660,554					-3,660,554	-3,660,554
Ending Balance, value at Sep. 30, 2012	4,946			565	107	-1,108		4,219	-8	1,165			4,940			6
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2012				7,300,000	534,327,480	-72,168,696	462,158,784
Beginning Balance, value at Jun. 30, 2012	4,938			565	107	-967		4,196	-10	1,040			4,931			7
Beginning Balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2012				7,300,000	532,672,974	-63,270,775	469,402,199
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	187									188			188			-1
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	2								2				2
Total comprehensive income	189												190			-1
Cash dividends:
Common stock	-58									-58			-58
Preferred stock		-3	-2								-3	-2		-3	-2
Issuance of common shares	17							17					17
Issuance of common shares, shares	1,654,506				1,654,506		1,654,506
Tax benefit related to employee stock-based compensation plans	-2							-2					-2
Stock-based compensation expense	8							8					8
Common stock repurchased	-121					-121							-121
Common stock repurchased, shares					-7,643,999	-7,643,999	-7,643,999
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	-20					-20							-20
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans, shares	-1,253,922					-1,253,922	-1,253,922
Ending Balance, value at Sep. 30, 2012	4,946			565	107	-1,108		4,219	-8	1,165			4,940			6
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2012				7,300,000	534,327,480	-72,168,696	462,158,784
Beginning Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2012	5,066			565	107	-1,294		4,237	-6	1,451			5,060			6
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012				7,300,000	535,507,965	-82,910,021	452,597,944
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	1,148									1,149			1,149			-1
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	14								14				14
Total comprehensive income	1,162												1,163			-1
Cash dividends:
Common stock	-199									-199			-199
Preferred stock		-9	-6								-9	-6		-9	-6
Dividend equivalent units related to employee stock-based compensation plans	-1									-1			-1
Issuance of common shares	94				2			92					94
Issuance of common shares, shares	8,600,008				8,600,008		8,600,008
Tax benefit related to employee stock-based compensation plans	7							7					7
Stock-based compensation expense	37							37					37
Common stock repurchased	-400					-400							-400
Common stock repurchased, shares					-19,316,948	-19,316,948	-19,316,948
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	-119					-119							-119
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans, shares	-5,616,933					-5,616,933	-5,616,933
Ending Balance, value at Sep. 30, 2013	5,632			565	109	-1,813		4,373	8	2,385			5,627			5
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2013				7,300,000	544,107,973	-107,843,902	436,264,071
Beginning Balance, value at Jun. 30, 2013	5,434			565	109	-1,804		4,355	9	2,195			5,429			5
Beginning Balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2013				7,300,000	543,781,184	-107,592,332	436,188,852
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	260									260			260
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	-1								-1				-1
Total comprehensive income	259												259
Cash dividends:
Common stock	-65									-65			-65
Preferred stock		-3	-2								-3	-2		-3	-2
Issuance of common shares	8							8					8
Issuance of common shares, shares	326,789				326,789		326,789
Tax benefit related to employee stock-based compensation plans	2							2					2
Stock-based compensation expense	8							8					8
Common stock repurchased, shares	0
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	-9					-9							-9
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans, shares	-251,570					-251,570	-251,570
Ending Balance, value at Sep. 30, 2013	$5,632			$565	$109	($1,813)		$4,373	$8	$2,385			$5,627
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2013				7,300,000	544,107,973	-107,843,902	436,264,071

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cha1

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Dividends per common share attributable to SLM Corporation	$0.15	$0.13	$0.45	$0.38
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, Dividends per preferred share	$0.87	$0.87	$2.61	$2.61
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, Dividends per preferred share	$0.50	$0.57	$1.51	$1.69
Retained Earnings [Member]
Dividends per common share attributable to SLM Corporation	$0.15	$0.13	$0.45	$0.38
Retained Earnings [Member] | Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, Dividends per preferred share	$0.87	$0.87	$2.61	$2.61
Retained Earnings [Member] | Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, Dividends per preferred share	$0.50	$0.57	$1.51	$1.69
Total Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Dividends per common share attributable to SLM Corporation	$0.15	$0.13	$0.45	$0.38
Total Stockholders' Equity [Member] | Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, Dividends per preferred share	$0.87	$0.87	$2.61	$2.61
Total Stockholders' Equity [Member] | Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, Dividends per preferred share	$0.50	$0.57	$1.51	$1.69

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating activities
Net income	$1,148	$589
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	-47	2
Gains on sales of loans and investments	-307	-1
Gains on debt repurchases	-42	-102
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization expense	10	13
Stock-based compensation expense	37	41
Unrealized (gains) losses on derivative and hedging activities	-384	51
Provisions for loan losses	649	766
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash - other	-3	5
(Increase) decrease in accrued interest receivable	-74	204
Decrease in accrued interest payable	-61	-55
Decrease in other assets	545	403
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities	-85	31
Cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations	1,386	1,947
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities - discontinued operations	46	-5
Total net cash provided by operating activities	1,432	1,942
Investing activities
Student loans acquired and originated	-3,689	-5,497
Reduction of student loans:
Installment payments, claims and other	9,159	14,167
Proceeds from sales of student loans	707	428
Other investing activities, net	56	-101
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	-44	-39
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities	28	56
Purchases of other securities	-288	-182
Proceeds from maturities of other securities	289	161
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash - variable interest entities	422	-609
Total net cash provided by investing activities	6,640	8,384
Financing activities
Borrowings collateralized by loans in trust - issued	8,542	10,004
Borrowings collateralized by loans in trust - repaid	-10,815	-11,565
Asset-backed commercial paper conduits, net	4,341	140
ED Conduit Program facility, net	-9,551	-8,960
Other short-term borrowings issued		23
Other short-term borrowings repaid		-122
Other long-term borrowings issued	2,712	3,769
Other long-term borrowings repaid	-2,343	-2,952
Other financing activities, net	-782	224
Retail and other deposits, net	867	327
Common stock repurchased	-400	-730
Common stock dividends paid	-199	-180
Preferred stock dividends paid	-15	-15
Net cash used in financing activities	-7,643	-10,037
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	429	289
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	3,900	2,794
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	4,329	3,083
Cash disbursements made (refunds received) for:
Interest	1,646	1,913
Income taxes paid	520	416
Income taxes received	-19	-5
Noncash activity:
Investing activity - Student loans and other assets acquired		402
Investing activity - Student loans and other assets removed related to sale of Residual Interest in securitization	-11,802
Financing activity - Borrowings assumed in acquisition of student loans and other assets		425
Financing activity - Borrowings removed related to sale of Residual Interest in securitization	($12,084)

Significant_Accounting_Policie

Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	1	Significant Accounting Policies
	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying unaudited, consolidated financial statements of SLM Corporation (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SLM Corporation and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries and those Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) for which we are the primary beneficiary, after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods have been included. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2013 or for any other period. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the “2012 Form 10-K”). Definitions for certain capitalized terms used in this document can be found in the 2012 Form 10-K.
	Consolidation
	In the first six months of 2013, we sold Residual Interests in FFELP Loan securitization trusts to third parties. We will continue to service the student loans in the trusts under existing agreements. Prior to the sale of the Residual Interests, we had consolidated the trusts as VIEs because we had met the two criteria for consolidation. We had determined we were the primary beneficiary because (1) as servicer to the trust we had the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affected its economic performance and (2) as the residual holder of the trust, we had an obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the trust that could potentially be significant. Upon the sale of the Residual Interests we are no longer the residual holder, thus we determined we no longer met criterion (2) above and deconsolidated the trusts. As a result of these transactions, we removed securitization trust assets of $12.5 billion and the related liabilities of $12.1 billion from the balance sheet and recorded a $312 million gain as part of “gains on sales of loans and investments” for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	Reclassifications
	Certain reclassifications have been made to the balances as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 to be consistent with classifications adopted for 2013, and had no effect on net income, total assets, or total liabilities.
	Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	On January 1, 2013, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), “Reporting Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” The objective of this new guidance is to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The impact of adopting this new guidance was immaterial and there was no impact on our results of operations.

Allowance_for_Loan_Losses

Allowance for Loan Losses	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]
Allowance for Loan Losses	2	Allowance for Loan Losses
	Our provisions for loan losses represent the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance sufficient to absorb incurred probable losses, net of expected recoveries, in the held-for-investment loan portfolios. The evaluation of the provisions for loan losses is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates that may be susceptible to significant changes. We believe that the allowance for loan losses is appropriate to cover probable losses incurred in the loan portfolios. We segregate our Private Education Loan portfolio into two classes of loans — traditional and non-traditional. Non-traditional loans are loans to (i) customers attending for-profit schools with an original Fair Isaac and Company (“FICO”) score of less than 670 and (ii) customers attending not-for-profit schools with an original FICO score of less than 640. The FICO score used in determining whether a loan is non-traditional is the greater of the customer or cosigner FICO score at origination. Traditional loans are defined as all other Private Education Loans that are not classified as non-traditional.
	Allowance for Loan Losses Metrics
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
	(Dollars in millions)		FFELP Loans			Private Education			Other			Total
						Loans			Loans
	Allowance for Loan Losses
	Beginning balance		$	133		$	2,149		$	35		$	2,317
	Total provision			12			195			—			207
	Charge-offs(1)			(15	)		(205	)		(3	)		(223	)
	Reclassification of interest reserve(2)			—			5			—			5
	Ending balance		$	130		$	2,144		$	32		$	2,306
	Allowance:
	Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	1,091		$	24		$	1,115
	Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	130		$	1,053		$	8		$	1,191
	Loans:
	Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	8,982		$	49		$	9,031
	Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	105,422		$	31,640		$	91		$	137,153
	Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)			0.08	%		2.57	%		7.7	%
	Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)			0.06	%		2.48	%		7.7	%
	Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance			0.12	%		5.28	%		22.9	%
	Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment			0.17	%		6.77	%		22.9	%
	Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)			2.2			2.6			2.8
	Ending total loans(3)		$	105,422		$	40,622		$	140
	Average loans in repayment		$	78,012		$	31,630		$	148
	Ending loans in repayment		$	77,618		$	31,651		$	140
		(1)	Charge-offs are reported net of expected recoveries. For Private Education Loans, the expected recovery amount is transferred to the receivable for partially charged-off loan balance. Charge-offs include charge-offs against the receivable for partially charged-off loans which represents the difference between what was expected to be collected and any shortfalls in what was actually collected in the period. See “Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans” for further discussion.
		(2)	Represents the additional allowance related to the amount of uncollectible interest reserved within interest income that is transferred in the period to the allowance for loan losses when interest is capitalized to a loan’s principal balance.
		(3)	Ending total loans for Private Education Loans includes the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
	(Dollars in millions)		FFELP Loans			Private Education			Other			Total
						Loans			Loans
	Allowance for Loan Losses
	Beginning balance		$	173		$	2,186		$	59		$	2,418
	Total provision			18			252			—			270
	Charge-offs(1)			(23	)		(250	)		(6	)		(279	)
	Student loan sales			(2	)		—			—			(2	)
	Reclassification of interest reserve(2)			—			8			—			8
	Ending balance		$	166		$	2,196		$	53		$	2,415
	Allowance:
	Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	1,056		$	40		$	1,096
	Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	166		$	1,140		$	13		$	1,319
	Loans:
	Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	7,099		$	76		$	7,175
	Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	126,441		$	33,012		$	146		$	159,599
	Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)			0.1	%		3.23	%		9.58	%
	Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)			0.08	%		3.11	%		9.58	%
	Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance			0.13	%		5.48	%		23.92	%
	Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment			0.18	%		7.09	%		23.92	%
	Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)			1.8			2.2			2.4
	Ending total loans(3)		$	126,441		$	40,111		$	222
	Average loans in repayment		$	90,898		$	30,816		$	231
	Ending loans in repayment		$	90,481		$	30,972		$	222
		(1)	Charge-offs are reported net of expected recoveries. For Private Education Loans, the expected recovery amount is transferred to the receivable for partially charged-off loan balance. Charge-offs include charge-offs against the receivable for partially charged-off loans which represents the difference between what was expected to be collected and any shortfalls in what was actually collected in the period. See “Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans” for further discussion.
		(2)	Represents the additional allowance related to the amount of uncollectible interest reserved within interest income that is transferred in the period to the allowance for loan losses when interest is capitalized to a loan’s principal balance.
		(3)	Ending total loans for Private Education Loans includes the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
	(Dollars in millions)		FFELP Loans			Private Education			Other			Total
						Loans			Loans
	Allowance for Loan Losses
	Beginning balance		$	159		$	2,171		$	47		$	2,377
	Total provision			42			607			—			649
	Charge-offs(1)			(57	)		(649	)		(15	)		(721	)
	Student loan sales			(14	)		—			—			(14	)
Reclassification of interest reserve(2)			—			15			—			15
Ending balance		$	130		$	2,144		$	32		$	2,306
Allowance:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	1,091		$	24		$	1,115
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	130		$	1,053		$	8		$	1,191
Loans:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	8,982		$	49		$	9,031
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	105,422		$	31,640		$	91		$	137,153
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)			0.09	%		2.74	%		12.14	%
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)			0.08	%		2.65	%		12.14	%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance			0.12	%		5.28	%		22.9	%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment			0.17	%		6.77	%		22.9	%
Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)			1.7			2.5			1.6
Ending total loans(3)		$	105,422		$	40,622		$	140
Average loans in repayment		$	82,196		$	31,631		$	163
Ending loans in repayment		$	77,618		$	31,651		$	140
	(1)	Charge-offs are reported net of expected recoveries. For Private Education Loans, the expected recovery amount is transferred to the receivable for partially charged-off loan balance. Charge-offs include charge-offs against the receivable for partially charged-off loans which represents the difference between what was expected to be collected and any shortfalls in what was actually collected in the period. See “Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans” for further discussion.
	(2)	Represents the additional allowance related to the amount of uncollectible interest reserved within interest income that is transferred in the period to the allowance for loan losses when interest is capitalized to a loan’s principal balance.
	(3)	Ending total loans for Private Education Loans includes the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Dollars in millions)		FFELP Loans			Private Education			Other			Total
					Loans			Loans
Allowance for Loan Losses
Beginning balance		$	187		$	2,171		$	69		$	2,427
Total provision			54			712			—			766
Charge-offs(1)			(68	)		(709	)		(16	)		(793	)
Student loan sales			(7	)		—			—			(7	)
Reclassification of interest reserve(2)			—			22			—			22
Ending balance		$	166		$	2,196		$	53		$	2,415
Allowance:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	1,056		$	40		$	1,096
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	166		$	1,140		$	13		$	1,319
Loans:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	7,099		$	76		$	7,175
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	126,441		$	33,012		$	146		$	159,599
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)			0.1	%		3.1	%		8.79	%
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)			0.08	%		2.97	%		8.79	%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance			0.13	%		5.48	%		23.92	%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment			0.18	%		7.09	%		23.92	%
Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)			1.8			2.3			2.5
Ending total loans(3)		$	126,441		$	40,111		$	222
Average loans in repayment		$	92,157		$	30,577		$	242
Ending loans in repayment		$	90,481		$	30,972		$	222
	(1)	Charge-offs are reported net of expected recoveries. For Private Education Loans, the expected recovery amount is transferred to the receivable for partially charged-off loan balance. Charge-offs include charge-offs against the receivable for partially charged-off loans which represents the difference between what was expected to be collected and any shortfalls in what was actually collected in the period. See “Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans” for further discussion.
	(2)	Represents the additional allowance related to the amount of uncollectible interest reserved within interest income that is transferred in the period to the allowance for loan losses when interest is capitalized to a loan’s principal balance.
	(3)	Ending total loans for Private Education Loans includes the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
Key Credit Quality Indicators
FFELP Loans are substantially insured and guaranteed as to their principal and accrued interest in the event of default; therefore, the key credit quality indicator for this portfolio is loan status. The impact of changes in loan status is incorporated quarterly into the allowance for loan losses calculation.
For Private Education Loans, the key credit quality indicators are school type, FICO scores, the existence of a cosigner, the loan status and loan seasoning. The school type/FICO score are assessed at origination and maintained through the traditional/non-traditional loan designation. The other Private Education Loan key quality indicators can change and are incorporated quarterly into the allowance for loan losses calculation. The following table highlights the principal balance (excluding the receivable for partially charged-off loans) of our Private Education Loan portfolio stratified by the key credit quality indicators.
		Private Education Loans
		Credit Quality Indicators
		September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
(Dollars in millions)		Balance(3)			% of Balance			Balance(3)			% of Balance
Credit Quality Indicators
School Type/FICO Scores:
Traditional		$	36,353			93	%	$	35,347			92	%
Non-Traditional(1)			2,947			7			3,207			8
Total		$	39,300			100	%	$	38,554			100	%
Cosigners:
With cosigner		$	26,277			67	%	$	24,907			65	%
Without cosigner			13,023			33			13,647			35
Total		$	39,300			100	%	$	38,554			100	%
Seasoning(2):
1-12 payments		$	5,855			15	%	$	7,371			19	%
13-24 payments			5,765			15			6,137			16
25-36 payments			6,227			16			6,037			16
37-48 payments			4,871			12			4,780			12
More than 48 payments			10,041			25			8,325			22
Not yet in repayment			6,541			17			5,904			15
Total		$	39,300			100	%	$	38,554			100	%
	(1)	Defined as loans to customers attending for-profit schools (with a FICO score of less than 670 at origination) and customers attending not-for-profit schools (with a FICO score of less than 640 at origination).
	(2)	Number of months in active repayment for which a scheduled payment was due.
	(3)	Balance represents gross Private Education Loans.
The following tables provide information regarding the loan status and aging of past due loans.
		FFELP Loan Delinquencies
		September 30,						December 31,
		2013						2012
(Dollars in millions)		Balance			%			Balance			%
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)		$	14,613					$	17,702
Loans in forbearance(2)			13,191						15,902
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
Loans current			64,144			82.6	%		75,499			83.2	%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)			3,798			4.9			4,710			5.2
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)			2,734			3.5			2,788			3.1
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)			6,942			9			7,734			8.5
Total FFELP Loans in repayment			77,618			100	%		90,731			100	%
Total FFELP Loans, gross			105,422						124,335
FFELP Loan unamortized premium			1,058						1,436
Total FFELP Loans			106,480						125,771
FFELP Loan allowance for losses			(130	)					(159	)
FFELP Loans, net		$	106,350					$	125,612
Percentage of FFELP Loans in repayment						73.6	%					73	%
Delinquencies as a percentage of FFELP Loans in repayment						17.4	%					16.8	%
FFELP Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance						14.5	%					14.9	%
	(1)	Loans for customers who may still be attending school or engaging in other permitted educational activities and are not required to make payments on their loans, e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation, as well as loans for customers who have requested and qualify for other permitted program deferments such as military, unemployment, or economic hardships.
	(2)	Loans for customers who have used their allowable deferment time or do not qualify for deferment, that need additional time to obtain employment or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors.
	(3)	The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.
		Private Education Traditional Loan
		Delinquencies
		September 30,						December 31,
		2013						2012
(Dollars in millions)		Balance			%			Balance			%
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)		$	6,112					$	5,421
Loans in forbearance(2)			971						996
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
Loans current			27,015			92.3	%		26,597			91.9	%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)			812			2.8			837			2.9
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)			519			1.7			375			1.3
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)			924			3.2			1,121			3.9
Total traditional loans in repayment			29,270			100	%		28,930			100	%
Total traditional loans, gross			36,353						35,347
Traditional loans unamortized discount			(650	)					(713	)
Total traditional loans			35,703						34,634
Traditional loans receivable for partially charged-off loans			798						797
Traditional loans allowance for losses			(1,611	)					(1,637	)
Traditional loans, net		$	34,890					$	33,794
Percentage of traditional loans in repayment						80.5	%					81.9	%
Delinquencies as a percentage of traditional loans in repayment						7.7	%					8.1	%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance						3.2	%					3.3	%
	(1)	Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not required to make payments on their loans, e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation.
	(2)	Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.
	(3)	The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.
		Private Education Non-Traditional
		Loan Delinquencies
		September 30,						December 31,
		2013						2012
(Dollars in millions)		Balance			%			Balance			%
Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)		$	429					$	483
Loans in forbearance(2)			137						140
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
Loans current			1,841			77.3	%		1,978			76.5	%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)			154			6.5			175			6.8
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)			122			5.1			106			4.1
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)			264			11.1			325			12.6
Total non-traditional loans in repayment			2,381			100	%		2,584			100	%
Total non-traditional loans, gross			2,947						3,207
Non-traditional loans unamortized discount			(76	)					(83	)
Total non-traditional loans			2,871						3,124
Non-traditional loans receivable for partially charged-off loans			524						550
Non-traditional loans allowance for losses			(533	)					(534	)
Non-traditional loans, net		$	2,862					$	3,140
Percentage of non-traditional loans in repayment						80.8	%					80.6	%
Delinquencies as a percentage of non-traditional loans in repayment						22.7	%					23.4	%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance						5.4	%					5.1	%
	(1)	Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not required to make payments on their loans, e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation.
	(2)	Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.
	(3)	The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.
Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans
At the end of each month, for loans that are 212 days past due, we charge off the estimated loss of a defaulted loan balance. Actual recoveries are applied against the remaining loan balance that was not charged off. We refer to this remaining loan balance as the “receivable for partially charged-off loans.” If actual periodic recoveries are less than expected, the difference is immediately charged off through the allowance for loan losses with an offsetting reduction in the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans. If actual periodic recoveries are greater than expected, they will be reflected as a recovery through the allowance for Private Education Loan losses once the cumulative recovery amount exceeds the cumulative amount originally expected to be recovered. Private Education Loans which defaulted between 2008 and 2012 for which we have previously charged off estimated losses have, to varying degrees, not met our post-default recovery expectations to date and may continue not to do so. Our allowance for loan losses takes into account these potential recovery uncertainties. In the third quarter of 2013 we increased our allowance related to these potential recovery shortfalls by approximately $112 million. According to our policy, we have been charging off these periodic shortfalls in expected recoveries against our allowance for Private Education Loan losses and the related receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans and we will continue to do so. There was $329 million and $187 million in allowance for Private Education Loan losses at September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, providing for possible additional future charge-offs related to the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans.
The following table summarizes the activity in the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans.
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
(Dollars in millions)		2013			2012			2013			2012
Receivable at beginning of period		$	1,334		$	1,277		$	1,347		$	1,241
Expected future recoveries of current period defaults(1)			68			86			216			237
Recoveries(2)			(55	)		(45	)		(177	)		(139	)
Charge-offs(3)			(25	)		(15	)		(64	)		(36	)
Receivable at end of period			1,322			1,303			1,322			1,303
Allowance for estimated recovery shortfalls(4)			(329	)		(187	)		(329	)		(187	)
Net receivable at end of period		$	993		$	1,116		$	993		$	1,116
	(1)	Represents the difference between the loan balance and our estimate of the amount to be collected in the future.
	(2)	Current period cash collections.
	(3)	Represents the current period recovery shortfall — the difference between what was expected to be collected and what was actually collected. These amounts are included in the Private Education Loan total charge-offs as reported in the “Allowance for Loan Losses Metrics” tables.
	(4)	The allowance for estimated recovery shortfalls of the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans is a component of the $2.1 billion and $2.2 billion overall allowance for Private Education Loan losses as of September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Troubled Debt Restructurings (“TDRs”)
We modify the terms of loans for certain customers when we believe such modifications may increase the ability and willingness of a customer to make payments and thus increase the ultimate overall amount collected on a loan. These modifications generally take the form of a forbearance, a temporary interest rate reduction or an extended repayment plan. For customers experiencing financial difficulty, certain Private Education Loans for which we have granted either cumulative forbearance of greater than three months, an interest rate reduction or an extended repayment plan are classified as TDRs. Forbearance provides customers the ability to defer payments for a period of time, but does not result in the forgiveness of any principal or interest. While in forbearance status, interest continues to accrue and is capitalized to principal when the loan re-enters repayment status. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the percentage of loans granted forbearance that have migrated to a TDR classification due to the extension of the original forbearance period was 43 percent for each period. The unpaid principal balance of TDR loans that were in an interest rate reduction plan as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $1.5 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively.
At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, all of our TDR loans had a related allowance recorded. The following table provides the recorded investment, unpaid principal balance and related allowance for our TDR loans.
		TDR Loans
(Dollars in millions)		Recorded			Unpaid			Related
		Investment(1)			Principal			Allowance
					Balance
September 30, 2013
Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	7,251		$	7,307		$	830
Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			1,423			1,424			261
Total		$	8,674		$	8,731		$	1,091
December 31, 2012
Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	5,999		$	6,074		$	844
Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			1,295			1,303			282
Total		$	7,294		$	7,377		$	1,126
	(1)	The recorded investment is equal to the unpaid principal balance and accrued interest receivable net of unamortized deferred fees and costs.
The following table provides the average recorded investment and interest income recognized for our TDR loans.
		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2013						2012
(Dollars in millions)		Average			Interest			Average			Interest
		Recorded			Income			Recorded			Income
		Investment			Recognized			Investment			Recognized
Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	7,246		$	108		$	5,481		$	87
Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			1,477			29			1,274			27
Total		$	8,723		$	137		$	6,755		$	114
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013						2012
(Dollars in millions)		Average			Interest			Average			Interest
		Recorded			Income			Recorded			Income
		Investment			Recognized			Investment			Recognized
Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	6,768		$	304		$	5,010		$	241
Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			1,420			83			1,197			78
Total		$	8,188		$	387		$	6,207		$	319
The following table provides information regarding the loan status and aging of TDR loans that are past due.
		TDR Loan Delinquencies
		September 30,						December 31, 2012
		2013
(Dollars in millions)		Balance			%			Balance			%
Loans in deferment(1)		$	789					$	574
Loans in forbearance(2)			768						544
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
Loans current			5,384			75.1	%		4,619			73.8	%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)			555			7.7			478			7.6
Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)			408			5.7			254			4.1
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)			827			11.5			908			14.5
Total TDR loans in repayment			7,174			100	%		6,259			100	%
Total TDR loans, gross		$	8,731					$	7,377
	(1)	Deferment includes loans for customers who have returned to school and are not currently required to make payments on their loans.
	(2)	Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.
	(3)	The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.
The following table provides the amount of modified loans that resulted in a TDR in the periods presented. Additionally, the table summarizes charge-offs occurring in the TDR portfolio, as well as TDRs for which a payment default occurred in the current period within 12 months of the loan first being designated as a TDR. We define payment default as 60 days past due for this disclosure. The majority of our loans that are considered TDRs involve a temporary forbearance of payments and do not change the contractual interest rate of the loan.
		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2013									2012
(Dollars in millions)		Modified			Charge-			Payment			Modified			Charge-		Payment
		Loans(1)			Offs(2)			Default			Loans(1)			Offs(2)		Default
Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	651		$	88		$	168		$	573		$	96	$	332
Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			94			32			48			101			37		97
Total		$	745		$	120		$	216		$	674		$	133	$	429
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013									2012
(Dollars in millions)		Modified			Charge-			Payment			Modified			Charge-		Payment
		Loans(1)			Offs(2)			Default			Loans(1)			Offs(2)		Default
Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	1,686		$	269		$	547		$	1,783		$	244	$	1,111
Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			259			97			150			346			99		350
Total		$	1,945		$	366		$	697		$	2,129		$	343	$	1,461
(1)	Represents period ending balance of loans that have been modified during the period and resulted in a TDR.
(2)	Represents loans that charged off that were classified as TDRs.
Accrued Interest Receivable
The following table provides information regarding accrued interest receivable on our Private Education Loans. The table also discloses the amount of accrued interest on loans greater than 90 days past due as compared to our allowance for uncollectible interest. The allowance for uncollectible interest exceeds the amount of accrued interest on our 90 days past due portfolio for all periods presented.
		Accrued Interest Receivable
(Dollars in millions)		Total			Greater Than			Allowance for
					90 Days			Uncollectible
					Past Due			Interest
September 30, 2013
Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	940		$	33		$	46
Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			97			13			21
Total		$	1,037		$	46		$	67
December 31, 2012
Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	798		$	39		$	45
Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			106			16			22
Total		$	904		$	55		$	67

Borrowings

Borrowings	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Borrowings	3	Borrowings
	The following table summarizes our borrowings.
			September 30, 2013									December 31, 2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Short		Long			Total				Short		Long		Total
			Term		Term							Term		Term
	Unsecured borrowings:
	Senior unsecured debt		$	3,201	$	15,509		$	18,710			$	2,319	$	15,446	$	17,765
	Bank deposits			5,732		1,896			7,628				4,226		3,088		7,314
	Other(1)			806		—			806				1,609		—		1,609
	Total unsecured borrowings			9,739		17,405			27,144				8,154		18,534		26,688
	Secured borrowings:
	FFELP Loan securitizations			—		91,690			91,690				—		105,525		105,525
	Private Education Loan securitizations			—		19,434			19,434				—		19,656		19,656
	FFELP Loans — other facilities			5,794		5,394			11,188				11,651		4,827		16,478
	Private Education Loans — other facilities			—		878			878				—		1,070		1,070
	Total secured borrowings			5,794		117,396			123,190				11,651		131,078		142,729
	Total before hedge accounting adjustments			15,533		134,801			150,334				19,805		149,612		169,417
	Hedge accounting adjustments			39		2,143			2,182				51		2,789		2,840
	Total		$	15,572	$	136,944		$	152,516			$	19,856	$	152,401	$	172,257
	(1)	“Other” primarily consists of the obligation to return cash collateral held related to derivative exposures.
	Secured Borrowings
	The tables below summarize all of our financing entities that are VIEs which we consolidate as a result of being the entities’ primary beneficiary. As such, these financing VIEs are accounted for as secured borrowings. We consolidate the following financing VIEs:
			September 30, 2013
			Debt Outstanding									Carrying Amount of Assets Securing
												Debt Outstanding
	(Dollars in millions)		Short		Long			Total				Loans		Cash		Other Assets		Total
			Term		Term
	Secured Borrowings — VIEs:
	FFELP Loan securitizations		$	—	$	91,690		$	91,690			$	92,865	$	3,538	$	715	$	97,118
	Private Education Loan securitizations			—		19,434			19,434				24,413		337		575		25,325
	FFELP Loans — other facilities			4,678		3,777			8,455				8,762		151		108		9,021
	Private Education Loans — other facilities			—		878			878				1,605		18		31		1,654
	Total before hedge accounting adjustments			4,678		115,779			120,457				127,645		4,044		1,429		133,118
	Hedge accounting adjustments			—		1,189			1,189				—		—		951		951
	Total		$	4,678	$	116,968		$	121,646			$	127,645	$	4,044	$	2,380	$	134,069
			December 31, 2012
			Debt Outstanding									Carrying Amount of Assets Securing
												Debt Outstanding
	(Dollars in millions)		Short		Long			Total				Loans		Cash		Other Assets		Total
			Term		Term
	Secured Borrowings — VIEs:
	FFELP Loan securitizations		$	—	$	105,525		$	105,525			$	107,009	$	3,652	$	608	$	111,269
	Private Education Loan securitizations			—		19,656			19,656				24,618		385		545		25,548
	FFELP Loans — other facilities			9,551		4,154			13,705				14,050		487		197		14,734
	Private Education Loans — other facilities			—		1,070			1,070				1,454		302		33		1,789
	Total before hedge accounting adjustments			9,551		130,405			139,956				147,131		4,826		1,383		153,340
	Hedge accounting adjustments			—		1,113			1,113				—		—		929		929
	Total		$	9,551	$	131,518		$	141,069			$	147,131	$	4,826	$	2,312	$	154,269
	Securitizations
	The following table summarizes the securitization transactions that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2012 and the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	(Dollars in millions)							AAA-rated bonds
	Issue		Date Issued		Total			Weighted Average		Weighted
					Issued			Interest Rate		Average
										Life
	FFELP:
	2012-1			January 2012	$	765		1 month LIBOR plus 0.91%			4.6 years
	2012-2			March 2012		824		1 month LIBOR plus 0.70%			4.7 years
	2012-3			May-12		1,252		1 month LIBOR plus 0.65%			4.6 years
	2012-4			Jun-12		1,491	(1)	1 month LIBOR plus 1.10%			8.2 years
	2011-3			Jul-12		24		N/A (Retained B Notes sold)
	2012-4			Jul-12		45		N/A (Retained B Notes sold)
	2012-5			Jul-12		1,252		1 month LIBOR plus 0.67%			4.5 years
	2012-6			September 2012		1,249		1 month LIBOR plus 0.62%			4.6 years
	2012-7			Nov-12		1,251		1 month LIBOR plus 0.55%			4.5 years
2012-8			Dec-12		1,527		1 month LIBOR plus 0.90%			7.8 years
Total bonds issued in 2012				$	9,680
Total loan amount securitized in 2012				$	9,565
2013-1			February 2013	$	1,249		1 month LIBOR plus 0.46%			4.3 years
2013-2			April 2013		1,246		1 month LIBOR plus 0.45%			4.4 years
2013-3			June 2013		1,246		1 month LIBOR plus 0.54%			4.5 years
2013-4			August 2013		747		1 month LIBOR plus 0.55%			4.4 years
2013-5			September 2013		996		1 month LIBOR plus 0.64%			4.6 years
Total bonds issued in nine months ended September 30, 2013				$	5,484
Total loan amount securitized in nine months ended September 30, 2013				$	5,496
Private Education:
2012-A			February 2012	$	547		1 month LIBOR plus 2.17%			3.0 years
2012-B			Apr-12		891		1 month LIBOR plus 2.12%			2.9 years
2012-C			May-12		1,135		1 month LIBOR plus 1.77%			2.6 years
2012-D			Jul-12		640		1 month LIBOR plus 1.69%			2.5 years
2012-E			Oct-12		976		1 month LIBOR plus 1.22%			2.6 years
Total bonds issued in 2012				$	4,189
Total loan amount securitized in 2012				$	5,557
2013-R1			Jan-13	$	254		1 month LIBOR plus 1.75%			6.3 years
2013-A			March 2013		1,108		1 month LIBOR plus 0.81%			2.6 years
2013-B			May 2013		1,135		1 month LIBOR plus 0.89%			2.7 years
2013-C			September 2013		624		1 month LIBOR plus 1.21%			3.1 years
Total bonds issued in nine months ended September 30, 2013				$	3,121
Total loan amount securitized in nine months ended September 30, 2013				$	3,387
(1)	Total size excludes subordinated tranche that was retained at issuance totaling $45 million.
2013 Sales of FFELP Securitization Trust Residual Interests
On February 13, 2013, we sold the Residual Interest in a FFELP Loan securitization trust to a third party. We will continue to service the student loans in the trust under existing agreements. The sale removed securitization trust assets of $3.82 billion and related liabilities of $3.68 billion from our balance sheet.
On April 11, 2013, we sold the Residual Interest in a FFELP Loan securitization trust to a third party. We will continue to service the student loans in the trust under existing agreements. The sale removed securitization trust assets of $2.03 billion and related liabilities of $1.99 billion from our balance sheet.
On June 13, 2013, we sold the three Residual Interests in FFELP Loan securitization trusts to a third party. We will continue to service the student loans in the trusts under existing agreements. The sale removed securitization trust assets of $6.60 billion and related liabilities of $6.42 billion from our balance sheet.
Additional, Recent Borrowing-Related Transactions
Senior Unsecured Debt
On January 28, 2013 and September 20, 2013, we issued $1.5 billion and $1.25 billion of senior unsecured bonds, respectively.
FFELP ABCP Facility
On June 10, 2013, we closed on a new $6.8 billion asset-backed commercial paper (“ABCP”) credit facility that matures in June 2014 to facilitate the term securitization of FFELP Loans. The facility was used in June 2013 to refinance all of the FFELP Loans previously financed through the U.S. Department of Education’s (“ED”) Conduit Program. The facility cannot be used to borrow any additional amounts. As a result, we ended our participation in the ED Conduit Program.
The cost of borrowing under the facility is the yield rate (either 30-day LIBOR daily average or commercial paper issuance cost) plus 0.50 percent, excluding up-front-commitment fees. Failure to pay off the facility on the maturity date would result in a 90-day extension of the facility with the interest rate increasing from LIBOR plus 0.75 percent to LIBOR plus 1.50 percent over that period. If, at the end of that period the facility has not been repaid, a default rate of LIBOR plus 3.00 percent would be payable until either the notes are repaid in full or the collateral is foreclosed upon. This default rate would also be triggered by the occurrence of a termination event. The facility is subject to termination under certain circumstances. Our borrowings under the facility are non-recourse. As of September 30, 2013, there was $4.7 billion outstanding under the facility. The book basis of the assets securing the facility as of September 30, 2013 was $4.9 billion.
Private Education Loan Facility
On July 17, 2013, we closed on a $1.1 billion asset-backed borrowing facility that matures on August 15, 2015. The facility was used to fund the call and redemption of our SLM 2009-D Private Education Loan Trust ABS, which occurred on August 15, 2013. The cost of borrowing under the facility is commercial paper issuance cost plus 0.75 percent, excluding up-front commitment fees. If outstanding borrowings under the facility exceed $825 million after July 15, 2014 and $550 million after January 15, 2015, the cost of borrowing increases to commercial paper issuance cost plus 1.50 percent. Failure to pay off the facility on the maturity date would result in the interest rate increasing to LIBOR plus 3.00 percent until the notes are repaid in full or the collateral is foreclosed upon. Our borrowings under the facility are non-recourse. As of September 30, 2013, there was $878 million outstanding under the facility. The book basis of the assets securing the facility as of September 30, 2013 was $1.7 billion.

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen

Derivative Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivative Financial Instruments	4	Derivative Financial Instruments
	Our risk management strategy and use of and accounting for derivatives have not materially changed from that discussed in our 2012 Form 10-K. Please refer to “Note 7 — Derivative Financial Instruments” in our 2012 Form 10-K for a full discussion.
	Summary of Derivative Financial Statement Impact
	The following tables summarize the fair values and notional amounts of all derivative instruments at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, and their impact on other comprehensive income and earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
	Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Balance Sheet
					Cash Flow								Fair Value								Trading								Total
	(Dollars in millions)		Hedged Risk		Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,				Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,				Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,				Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,
			Exposure		2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012
	Fair Values(1)
	Derivative Assets:
	Interest rate swaps		Interest rate		$	16			$	—			$	881			$	1,396			$	69			$	150			$	966			$	1,546
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps		Foreign currency			—				—				1,163				1,165				1				70				1,164				1,235
			& interest rate
	Other(2)		Interest rate			—				—				—				—				3				4				3				4
	Total derivative assets(3)					16				—				2,044				2,561				73				224				2,133				2,785
	Derivative Liabilities:
	Interest rate swaps		Interest rate			(1	)			(11	)			(98	)			(1	)			(202	)			(197	)			(301	)			(209	)
	Floor Income Contracts		Interest rate			—				—				—				—				(1,564	)			(2,154	)			(1,564	)			(2,154	)
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps		Foreign currency			—				—				(175	)			(136	)			(7	)			—				(182	)			(136	)
			& interest rate
	Other(2)		Interest rate			—				—				—				—				(21	)			—				(21	)			—
	Total derivative liabilities(3)					(1	)			(11	)			(273	)			(137	)			(1,794	)			(2,351	)			(2,068	)			(2,499	)
	Net total derivatives				$	15			$	(11	)		$	1,771			$	2,424			$	(1,721	)		$	(2,127	)		$	65			$	286
	(1)	Fair values reported are exclusive of collateral held and pledged and accrued interest. Assets and liabilities are presented without consideration of master netting agreements. Derivatives are carried on the balance sheet based on net position by counterparty under master netting agreements, and classified in other assets or other liabilities depending on whether in a net receivable or payable position.
	(2)	“Other” includes embedded derivatives bifurcated from securitization debt as well as derivatives related to our Total Return Swap Facility and back-to-back private credit floors.
	(3)	The following table reconciles gross positions without the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification:
			Other Assets								Other Liabilities
	(Dollar in millions)		September 30,				December 31,				September 30,				December 31,
			2013				2012				2013				2012
	Gross position		$	2,133			$	2,785			$	(2,068	)		$	(2,499	)
	Impact of master netting agreements			(404	)			(544	)			404				544
	Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet)			1,729				2,241				(1,664	)			(1,955	)
	Cash collateral (held) pledged			(804	)			(1,423	)			872				973
	Net position		$	925			$	818			$	(792	)		$	(982	)
	The above fair values include adjustments for counterparty credit risk both for when we are exposed to the counterparty, net of collateral postings, and when the counterparty is exposed to us, net of collateral postings. The net adjustments decreased the overall net asset positions at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 by $111 million and $111 million, respectively. In addition, the above fair values reflect adjustments for illiquid derivatives as indicated by a wide bid/ask spread in the interest rate indices to which the derivatives are indexed. These adjustments decreased the overall net asset positions at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 by $89 million and $107 million, respectively.
			Cash Flow								Fair Value								Trading								Total
	(Dollars in billions)		Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,				Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,				Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,				Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,
			2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012
	Notional Values:
	Interest rate swaps		$	0.5			$	0.7			$	16.7			$	15.8			$	48			$	56.9			$	65.2			$	73.4
	Floor Income Contracts			—				—				—				—				31.8				51.6				31.8				51.6
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			—				—				11.7				13.7				0.3				0.3				12				14
	Other(1)			—				—				—				—				3.3				1.4				3.3				1.4
	Total derivatives		$	0.5			$	0.7			$	28.4			$	29.5			$	83.4			$	110.2			$	112.3			$	140.4
	(1)	“Other” includes embedded derivatives bifurcated from securitization debt, as well as derivatives related to our Total Return Swap Facility and back to back private credit floors.
	Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income
			Three Months Ended September 30,
			Unrealized								Realized								Unrealized								Total Gain
			Gain								Gain								Gain								(Loss)
			(Loss) on								(Loss) on								(Loss) on
			Derivatives(1)(2)								Derivatives(3)								Hedged
																			Item(1)
	(Dollars in millions)		2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012
	Fair Value Hedges:
	Interest rate swaps		$	(36	)		$	20			$	103			$	111			$	33			$	(33	)		$	100			$	98
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			482				203				29				37				(531	)			(239	)			(20	)			1
	Total fair value derivatives			446				223				132				148				(498	)			(272	)			80				99
	Cash Flow Hedges:
	Interest rate swaps			—				—				(1	)			(6	)			—				—				(1	)			(6	)
	Total cash flow derivatives			—				—				(1	)			(6	)			—				—				(1	)			(6	)
	Trading:
	Interest rate swaps			(8	)			(6	)			21				24				—				—				13				18
	Floor Income Contracts			115				(12	)			(201	)			(206	)			—				—				(86	)			(218	)
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			3				14				—				2				—				—				3				16
Other			(4	)			—				(1	)			—				—				—				(5	)			—
Total trading derivatives			106				(4	)			(181	)			(180	)			—				—				(75	)			(184	)
Total			552				219				(50	)			(38	)			(498	)			(272	)			4				(91	)
Less: realized gains (losses) recorded in interest expense			—				—				131				142				—				—				131				142
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net		$	552			$	219			$	(181	)		$	(180	)		$	(498	)		$	(272	)		$	(127	)		$	(233	)
(1)	Recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
(2)	Represents ineffectiveness related to cash flow hedges.
(3)	For fair value and cash flow hedges, recorded in interest expense. For trading derivatives, recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net.”
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		Unrealized								Realized								Unrealized								Total Gain
		Gain								Gain								Gain								(Loss)
		(Loss) on								(Loss) on								(Loss) on
		Derivatives(1)(2)								Derivatives(3)								Hedged
																		Item(1)
(Dollars in millions)		2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012
Fair Value Hedges:
Interest rate swaps		$	(613	)		$	66			$	317			$	339			$	671			$	(98	)		$	375			$	307
Cross-currency interest rate swaps			(40	)			(260	)			76				139				(58	)			126				(22	)			5
Total fair value derivatives			(653	)			(194	)			393				478				613				28				353				312
Cash Flow Hedges:
Interest rate swaps			—				(1	)			(6	)			(21	)			—				—				(6	)			(22	)
Total cash flow derivatives			—				(1	)			(6	)			(21	)			—				—				(6	)			(22	)
Trading:
Interest rate swaps			(85	)			(55	)			58				91				—				—				(27	)			36
Floor Income Contracts			601				174				(612	)			(643	)			—				—				(11	)			(469	)
Cross-currency interest rate swaps			(76	)			(9	)			31				5				—				—				(45	)			(4	)
Other			(16	)			5				(1	)			(1	)			—				—				(17	)			4
Total trading derivatives			424				115				(524	)			(548	)			—				—				(100	)			(433	)
Total			(229	)			(80	)			(137	)			(91	)			613				28				247				(143	)
Less: realized gains (losses) recorded in interest expense			—				—				387				457				—				—				387				457
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net		$	(229	)		$	(80	)		$	(524	)		$	(548	)		$	613			$	28			$	(140	)		$	(600	)
(1)	Recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
(2)	Represents ineffectiveness related to cash flow hedges.
(3)	For fair value and cash flow hedges, recorded in interest expense. For trading derivatives, recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net.”
Collateral
Collateral held and pledged related to derivative exposures between us and our derivative counterparties are detailed in the following table:
(Dollars in millions)		September 30,				December 31,
		2013				2012
Collateral held:
Cash (obligation to return cash collateral is recorded in short-term borrowings)(1)		$	804			$	1,423
Securities at fair value — on-balance sheet securitization derivatives (not recorded in financial statements)(2)			555				613
Total collateral held		$	1,359			$	2,036
Derivative asset at fair value including accrued interest		$	1,946			$	2,570
Collateral pledged to others:
Cash (right to receive return of cash collateral is recorded in investments)		$	872			$	973
Total collateral pledged		$	872			$	973
Derivative liability at fair value including accrued interest and premium receivable		$	1,072			$	1,204
(1)	At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $0 and $9 million, respectively, were held in restricted cash accounts.
(2)	The trusts do not have the ability to sell or re-pledge securities they hold as collateral.
Our corporate derivatives contain credit contingent features. At our current unsecured credit rating, we have fully collateralized our corporate derivative liability position (including accrued interest and net of premiums receivable) of $883 million with our counterparties. Further downgrades would not result in any additional collateral requirements, except to increase the frequency of collateral calls. Two counterparties have the right to terminate the contracts with further downgrades. We currently have a liability position with these derivative counterparties (including accrued interest and net of premiums receivable) of $203 million and have posted $196 million of collateral to these counterparties. If the credit contingent feature was triggered for these two counterparties and the counterparties exercised their right to terminate, we would be required to deliver additional assets of $7 million to settle the contracts. Trust related derivatives do not contain credit contingent features related to our or the trusts’ credit ratings.

Other_Assets

Other Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Assets	5	Other Assets
	The following table provides the detail of our other assets.
			September 30, 2013					December 31, 2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Ending		% of			Ending		% of
			Balance		Balance			Balance		Balance
	Accrued interest receivable, net		$	2,167		29	%	$	2,147		26	%
	Derivatives at fair value			1,729		23			2,241		27
	Income tax asset, net current and deferred			1,344		18			1,478		18
	Accounts receivable			873		12			1,111		13
	Benefit and insurance-related investments			477		6			474		6
	Fixed assets, net			240		3			215		3
	Other loans, net			108		1			137		2
	Other			482		8			470		5
	Total		$	7,420		100	%	$	8,273		100	%
	The “Derivatives at fair value” line in the above table represents the fair value of our derivatives in a gain position by counterparty, exclusive of accrued interest and collateral. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, these balances included $1.8 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively, of cross-currency interest rate swaps and interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges that were offset by an increase in interest-bearing liabilities related to the hedged debt. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the cumulative mark-to-market adjustment to the hedged debt was $(2.2) billion and $(2.8) billion, respectively.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	6	Stockholders’ Equity
	The following table summarizes our common share repurchases and issuances.
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2013		2012		2013		2012
	Common shares repurchased(1)			—		7,643,999		19,316,948		48,184,145
	Average purchase price per share(2)		$	—	$	15.81	$	20.72	$	15.16
	Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans(3)			251,570		1,253,922		5,616,933		3,660,554
	Average purchase price per share		$	24.73	$	16.13	$	21.23	$	15.56
	Common shares issued(4)			326,789		1,654,506		8,600,008		5,252,158
		(1)	Common shares purchased under our share repurchase program, of which $400 million remained available as of September 30, 2013.
		(2)	Average purchase price per share includes purchase commission costs.
		(3)	Comprises shares withheld from stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock for employees’ tax withholding obligations and shares tendered by employees to satisfy option exercise costs.
		(4)	Common shares issued under our various compensation and benefit plans.
	The closing price of our common stock on September 30, 2013 was $24.90.
	Dividend and Share Repurchase Program
	In the third quarter 2013, we paid a common stock dividend of $0.15 per common share.
	In July 2013, the Company authorized $400 million to be utilized in a new common share repurchase program that does not have an expiration date. There were no share repurchases in the third-quarter 2013. We repurchased an aggregate of 19 million shares for $400 million in the six months ended June 30, 2013, fully utilizing the Company’s February 2013 share repurchase program.
	In 2012, we authorized the repurchase of up to $900 million of outstanding common stock in open market transactions and we repurchased 58 million shares for an aggregate purchase price of $900 million.

Earnings_Per_Common_Share

Earnings Per Common Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Common Share	7	Earnings per Common Share
	Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) are calculated using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS calculations follows.
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
	(In millions, except per share data)		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to SLM Corporation		$	260	$	188	$	1,149	$	591
	Preferred stock dividends			5		5		15		15
	Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock		$	255	$	183	$	1,134	$	576
	Denominator:
	Weighted average shares used to compute basic EPS			436		464		442		483
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Dilutive effect of stock options, non-vested deferred compensation and restricted stock, restricted stock units and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”)(1)			9		7		8		7
	Dilutive potential common shares(2)			9		7		8		7
	Weighted average shares used to compute diluted EPS			445		471		450		490
	Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to SLM Corporation:
	Continuing operations		$	0.56	$	0.39	$	2.46	$	1.19
	Discontinued operations			0.02		—		0.1		—
	Total		$	0.58	$	0.39	$	2.56	$	1.19
	Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to SLM Corporation:
	Continuing operations		$	0.55	$	0.39	$	2.42	$	1.18
	Discontinued operations			0.02		—		0.1		—
	Total		$	0.57	$	0.39	$	2.52	$	1.18
	(1)	Includes the potential dilutive effect of additional common shares that are issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options, non-vested deferred compensation and restricted stock, restricted stock units, and the outstanding commitment to issue shares under the ESPP, determined by the treasury stock method.
	(2)	For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, securities covering approximately 3 million and 10 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, securities covering approximately 4 million and 13 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	8	Fair Value Measurements
	We use estimates of fair value in applying various accounting standards in our financial statements.
	We categorize our fair value estimates based on a hierarchical framework associated with three levels of price transparency utilized in measuring financial instruments at fair value. Please refer to “Note 13 — Fair Value Measurements” in our 2012 Form 10-K for a full discussion.
	During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, there were no significant transfers of financial instruments between levels, or changes in our methodology or assumptions used to value our financial instruments.
	The following table summarizes the valuation of our financial instruments that are marked-to-market on a recurring basis.
			Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
			September 30, 2013												December 31, 2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Assets
	Available-for-sale investments:
	Agency residential mortgage-backed securities		$	—		$	77		$	—		$	77		$	—		$	63		$	—		$	63
	Guaranteed investment contracts			—			8			—			8			—			9			—			9
	Other			—			8			—			8			—			9			—			9
	Total available-for-sale investments			—			93			—			93			—			81			—			81
	Derivative instruments:(1)
	Interest rate swaps			—			917			49			966			—			1,444			102			1,546
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			—			32			1,132			1,164			—			48			1,187			1,235
	Other			—			—			3			3			—			—			4			4
	Total derivative assets(3)			—			949			1,184			2,133			—			1,492			1,293			2,785
	Total		$	—		$	1,042		$	1,184		$	2,226		$	—		$	1,573		$	1,293		$	2,866
	Liabilities(2)
	Derivative instruments(1)
	Interest rate swaps		$	—		$	(164	)	$	(137	)	$	(301	)	$	—		$	(34	)	$	(175	)	$	(209	)
	Floor Income Contracts			—			(1,564	)		—			(1,564	)		—			(2,154	)		—			(2,154	)
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			—			(11	)		(171	)		(182	)		—			(2	)		(134	)		(136	)
	Other			—			—			(21	)		(21	)		—			—			—			—
	Total derivative liabilities(3)			—			(1,739	)		(329	)		(2,068	)		—			(2,190	)		(309	)		(2,499	)
	Total		$	—		$	(1,739	)	$	(329	)	$	(2,068	)	$	—		$	(2,190	)	$	(309	)	$	(2,499	)
	(1)	Fair value of derivative instruments excludes accrued interest and the value of collateral.
	(2)	Borrowings which are the hedged items in a fair value hedge relationship and which are adjusted for changes in value due to benchmark interest rates only are not carried at full fair value and are not reflected in this table.
	(3)	See “Note 4 — Derivative Financial Instruments” for a reconciliation of gross positions without the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification.
	The following tables summarize the change in balance sheet carrying value associated with level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value on a recurring basis.
			Three Months Ended September 30,
			2013												2012
			Derivative instruments												Derivative instruments
	(Dollars in millions)		Interest			Cross			Other			Total			Interest			Cross			Other			Total
			Rate Swaps			Currency						Derivative			Rate Swaps			Currency						Derivative
						Interest						Instruments						Interest						Instruments
						Rate Swaps												Rate Swaps
	Balance, beginning of period		$	(88	)	$	486		$	(15	)	$	383		$	(83	)	$	620		$	5		$	542
	Total gains/(losses) (realized and unrealized):
	Included in earnings(1)			10			499			(5	)		504			19			251			—			270
	Included in other comprehensive income			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Settlements			(10	)		(24	)		2			(32	)		(4	)		(28	)		—			(32	)
	Transfers in and/or out of level 3			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Balance, end of period		$	(88	)	$	961		$	(18	)	$	855		$	(68	)	$	843		$	5		$	780
	Change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date(2)		$	8		$	475		$	(4	)	$	479		$	15		$	224		$	(1	)	$	238
			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013												2012
			Derivative instruments												Derivative instruments
	(Dollars in millions)		Interest			Cross			Other			Total			Interest			Cross			Other			Total
			Rate Swaps			Currency						Derivative			Rate Swaps			Currency						Derivative
						Interest						Instruments						Interest						Instruments
						Rate Swaps												Rate Swaps
	Balance, beginning of period		$	(73	)	$	1,053		$	4		$	984		$	(40	)	$	1,021		$	1		$	982
	Total gains/(losses) (realized and unrealized):
	Included in earnings(1)			6			—			(18	)		(12	)		(3	)		(73	)		4			(72	)
	Included in other comprehensive income			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Settlements			(21	)		(92	)		(4	)		(117	)		(25	)		(105	)		—			(130	)
	Transfers in and/or out of level 3			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Balance, end of period		$	(88	)	$	961		$	(18	)	$	855		$	(68	)	$	843		$	5		$	780
	Change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date(2)		$	(3	)	$	45		$	(16	)	$	26		$	(26	)	$	(178	)	$	5		$	(199	)
		(1)	“Included in earnings” is comprised of the following amounts recorded in the specified line item in the consolidated statements of income:
			Three Months  Ended						Nine Months  Ended
September 30,					September 30,
(Dollars in millions)		2013			2012			2013			2012
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net		$	480		$	245		$	(73	)	$	(172	)
Interest expense			24			25			61			100
Total		$	504		$	270		$	(12	)	$	(72	)
	(2)	Recorded in “gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
The following table presents the significant inputs that are unobservable or from inactive markets used in the recurring valuations of the level 3 financial instruments detailed above.
(Dollars in millions)		Fair Value at			Valuation		Input	Range
		September 30, 2013			Technique			(Weighted Average)
Derivatives
Consumer Price Index/		$	41		Discounted cash flow		Bid/ask adjustment	0.05% — 0.05%
LIBOR basis swaps							to discount rate	-0.05%
Prime/LIBOR basis			(129	)	Discounted cash flow		Constant prepayment rate	4.30%
swaps
							Bid/ask adjustment to	0.08% — 0.08%
							discount rate	-0.08%
Cross-currency interest			961		Discounted cash flow		Constant prepayment rate	2.60%
rate swaps
Other			(18	)
Total		$	855
The significant inputs that are unobservable or from inactive markets related to our level 3 derivatives detailed in the table above would be expected to have the following impacts to the valuations:
	•		Consumer Price Index/LIBOR basis swaps — These swaps do not actively trade in the markets as indicated by a wide bid/ask spread. A wider bid/ask spread will result in a decrease in the overall valuation.
	•		Prime/LIBOR basis swaps — These swaps do not actively trade in the markets as indicated by a wide bid/ask spread. A wider bid/ask spread will result in a decrease in the overall valuation. In addition, the unobservable inputs include constant prepayment rates of the underlying securitization trust the swap references. A decrease in this input will result in a longer weighted average life of the swap which will increase the value for swaps in a gain position and decrease the value for swaps in a loss position, everything else equal. The opposite is true for an increase in the input.
	•		Cross-currency interest rate swaps — The unobservable inputs used in these valuations are constant prepayment rates of the underlying securitization trust the swap references. A decrease in this input will result in a longer weighted average life of the swap. All else equal in a typical currency market, this will result in a decrease to the valuation due to the delay in the cash flows of the currency exchanges as well as diminished liquidity in the forward exchange markets as you increase the term. The opposite is true for an increase in the input.
The following table summarizes the fair values of our financial assets and liabilities, including derivative financial instruments.
		September 30, 2013									December 31, 2012
(Dollars in millions)		Fair			Carrying			Difference			Fair			Carrying			Difference
		Value			Value						Value			Value
Earning assets
FFELP Loans		$	105,809		$	106,350		$	(541	)	$	125,042		$	125,612		$	(570	)
Private Education Loans			37,625			37,752			(127	)		36,081			36,934			(853	)
Cash and investments(1)			9,612			9,612			—			9,994			9,994			—
Total earning assets			153,046			153,714			(668	)		171,117			172,540			(1,423	)
Interest-bearing liabilities
Short-term borrowings			15,588			15,572			(16	)		19,861			19,856			(5	)
Long-term borrowings			133,102			136,944			3,842			146,210			152,401			6,191
Total interest-bearing liabilities			148,690			152,516			3,826			166,071			172,257			6,186
Derivative financial instruments
Floor Income Contracts			(1,564	)		(1,564	)		—			(2,154	)		(2,154	)		—
Interest rate swaps			665			665			—			1,337			1,337			—
Cross-currency interest rate swaps			982			982			—			1,099			1,099			—
Other			(18	)		(18	)		—			4			4			—
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value								$	3,158								$	4,763
(1)	“Cash and investments” includes available-for-sale investments that consist of investments that are primarily agency securities whose cost basis is $94 million and $78 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, versus a fair value of $93 million and $81 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
The following includes a discussion of financial instruments whose fair value is included for disclosure purposes only in the table above along with their level in the fair value hierarchy.
Student Loans
FFELP Loans
Fair values for FFELP Loans were determined by modeling loan cash flows using stated terms of the loans and internally-developed assumptions. The significant assumptions used to determine fair value are prepayment speeds, default rates, cost of funds, capital levels, and expected Repayment Borrower Benefits to be earned. In addition, the Floor Income component of our FFELP Loan portfolio is valued with option models using both observable market inputs and internally developed inputs. A number of significant inputs into the models are internally derived and not observable to market participants. While the resulting fair value can be validated against market transactions where we are a participant, these markets are not considered active. As such, these are level 3 valuations.
Private Education Loans
Fair values for Private Education Loans were determined by modeling loan cash flows using stated terms of the loans and internally-developed assumptions. The significant assumptions used to determine fair value are prepayment speeds, default rates, recovery rates, cost of funds and capital levels. A number of significant inputs into the models are internally derived and not observable to market participants nor can the resulting fair values be validated against market transactions. As such, these are level 3 valuations.
Cash and Investments (Including “Restricted Cash and Investments”)
Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost. Carrying value approximated fair value. These are level 2 valuations.
Borrowings
The full fair value of all borrowings is disclosed. Fair value was determined through standard bond pricing models and option models (when applicable) using the stated terms of the borrowings, observable yield curves, foreign currency exchange rates, volatilities from active markets or from quotes from broker-dealers. Fair value adjustments for unsecured corporate debt are made based on indicative quotes from observable trades and spreads on credit default swaps specific to the Company. Fair value adjustments for secured borrowings are based on indicative quotes from broker-dealers. These fair value adjustments are based on inputs from inactive markets. As such, these are level 3 valuations.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	9	Commitments and Contingencies
	At the time of this filing, Sallie Mae Bank (the “Bank”) remains subject to a cease and desist order originally issued in August 2008 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions (“UDFI”). In July 2013, the FDIC notified the Bank that it plans to replace the existing cease and desist order with a new formal enforcement action that will more specifically address certain cited violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, including with respect to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (“SCRA”), and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (“ECOA”) and its implementing regulation, Regulation B, which will likely include civil money penalties and restitution. The Bank has been notified by the UDFI that it does not intend to join the FDIC in issuing the new enforcement action.
	With respect to the alleged civil violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act relating to the SCRA, we are also in discussions with the Department of Justice (“DOJ”), as the agency having primary authority for enforcement of SCRA matters, regarding settlement, remediation and a comprehensive restitution plan. In September 2013, we also received a Civil Investigative Demand from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) as part of its separate investigation regarding allegations relating to our existing payment allocation practices and procedures, the same as those previously raised by the FDIC.
	We have made and continue to make changes to the Bank’s oversight of significant activities performed outside the Bank by Company affiliates and to our business practices in order to comply with all applicable laws and regulations and the terms of any cease and desist orders, including in connection with our pursuit of a strategic plan to separate our existing organization into two publicly traded companies. We are cooperating fully with the FDIC, DOJ and CFPB in response to their investigations and requests for information and are in active discussions with each with respect to any potential actions to be taken against us. We could be required to, or otherwise determine to, make further changes to the business practices and products of the Bank and our other affiliates to respond to regulatory concerns. At the time of the filing, it is not possible to estimate a range of potential exposure, if any, to amounts that may be payable or costs that must be incurred to comply with the terms of any order.
	In the ordinary course of business, we and our subsidiaries are defendants in or parties to pending and threatened legal actions and proceedings including actions brought on behalf of various classes of claimants. These actions and proceedings may be based on alleged violations of consumer protection, securities, employment and other laws. In certain of these actions and proceedings, claims for substantial monetary damage are asserted against us and our subsidiaries.
	In the ordinary course of business, we and our subsidiaries are subject to regulatory examinations, information gathering requests, inquiries and investigations. In connection with formal and informal inquiries in these cases, we and our subsidiaries receive numerous requests, subpoenas and orders for documents, testimony and information in connection with various aspects of our regulated activities.
	In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of such litigation and regulatory matters, we cannot predict what the eventual outcome of the pending matters will be, what the timing or the ultimate resolution of these matters will be, or what the eventual loss, fines or penalties related to each pending matter may be.
	We are required to establish reserves for litigation and regulatory matters where those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and estimable. When loss contingencies are not both probable and estimable, we do not establish reserves.
	Based on current knowledge, reserves have been established for certain litigation or regulatory matters where the loss is both probable and estimable. Based on current knowledge, management does not believe that loss contingencies, if any, arising from pending investigations, litigation or regulatory matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, liquidity, results of operations or cash flows.

Segment_Reporting

Segment Reporting	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Reporting	10	Segment Reporting
	Consumer Lending Segment
	In this segment, we originate, acquire, finance and service Private Education Loans. The Private Education Loans we make are primarily to bridge the gap between the cost of higher education and the amount funded through financial aid, federal loans or customers’ resources. In this segment, we earn net interest income on the Private Education Loan portfolio (after provision for loan losses) as well as servicing fees, primarily consisting of late fees.
	The following table includes asset information for our Consumer Lending segment.
	(Dollars in millions)		September 30,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Private Education Loans, net		$	37,752		$	36,934
	Cash and investments(1)			2,268			2,731
	Other			3,599			3,275
	Total assets		$	43,619		$	42,940
		(1)	Includes restricted cash and investments.
	Business Services Segment
	Our Business Services segment generates the majority of its revenue from servicing our FFELP Loan portfolio. We also provide servicing, loan default aversion and defaulted loan collection services for loans on behalf of Guarantors of FFELP Loans and other institutions, including ED. We also operate a consumer savings network that provides financial rewards on everyday purchases to help families save for college.
	On September 25, 2013, we announced the sale of our 529 college savings plan administration business. Upon the transaction’s closing, which is anticipated to occur in the fourth-quarter 2013, we will recognize a gain of approximately $0.14 per diluted share. Due to the pending sale, the results of this business were moved to discontinued operations for all periods presented.
	At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Business Services segment had total assets of $826 million and $867 million, respectively.
	FFELP Loans Segment
	Our FFELP Loans segment consists of our $106.3 billion FFELP Loan portfolio at September 30, 2013 and underlying debt and capital funding these loans. FFELP Loans are no longer originated but we continue to seek to acquire FFELP Loan portfolios to leverage our servicing scale to generate incremental earnings and cash flow. This segment is expected to generate significant amounts of cash as the FFELP portfolio amortizes.
	The following table includes asset information for our FFELP Loans segment.
	(Dollars in millions)		September 30,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	FFELP Loans, net		$	106,350		$	125,612
	Cash and investments(1)			5,025			5,766
	Other			3,114			4,286
	Total assets		$	114,489		$	135,664
		(1)	Includes restricted cash and investments.
	Other Segment
	Our Other segment primarily consists of activities of our holding company, including the repurchase of debt, the corporate liquidity portfolio and all overhead. We also include results from smaller wind-down and discontinued operations within this segment
	At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Other segment had total assets of $2.6 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively.
	Measure of Profitability
	The tables below include the condensed operating results for each of our reportable segments. Management, including the chief operating decision makers, evaluates the Company on certain performance measures that we refer to as “Core Earnings” performance measures for each operating segment. We use “Core Earnings” to manage each business segment because “Core Earnings” reflect adjustments to GAAP financial results for two items, discussed below, that create significant volatility mostly due to timing factors generally beyond the control of management. Accordingly, we believe that “Core Earnings” provide management with a useful basis from which to better evaluate results from ongoing operations against the business plan or against results from prior periods. Consequently, we disclose this information as we believe it provides investors with additional information regarding the operational and performance indicators that are most closely assessed by management. The two items adjusted for in our “Core Earnings” presentations are (1) our use of derivative instruments to hedge our economic risks that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment or do qualify for hedge accounting treatment but result in ineffectiveness and (2) the accounting for goodwill and acquired intangible assets. The tables presented below reflect “Core Earnings” operating measures reviewed and utilized by management to manage the business. Reconciliation of the “Core Earnings” segment totals to our consolidated operating results in accordance with GAAP is also included in the tables below.
	Our “Core Earnings” performance measures are not defined terms within GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Unlike financial accounting, there is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for management reporting. The management reporting process measures the performance of the operating segments based on the management structure of the Company and is not necessarily comparable with similar information for any other financial institution. Our operating segments are defined by the products and services they offer or the types of customers they serve, and they reflect the manner in which financial information is currently evaluated by management. Intersegment revenues and expenses are netted within the appropriate financial statement line items consistent with the income statement presentation provided to management. Changes in management structure or allocation methodologies and procedures may result in changes in reported segment financial information.
	Segment Results and Reconciliations to GAAP
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
	(Dollars in millions)		Consumer			Business			FFELP			Other			Eliminations(1)			Total			Adjustments									Total
			Lending			Services			Loans									“Core												GAAP
																		Earnings”			Reclassifications			Additions/			Total
																								(Subtractions)			Adjustments(2)
	Interest income:
	Student loans		$	635		$	—		$	574		$	—		$	—		$	1,209		$	201		$	(77	)	$	124		$	1,333
	Other loans			—			—			—			3			—			3			—			—			—			3
	Cash and investments			1			1			2			1			(1	)		4			—			—			—			4
	Total interest income			636			1			576			4			(1	)		1,216			201			(77	)		124			1,340
	Total interest expense			203			—			313			13			(1	)		528			12			1	(4)		13			541
	Net interest income (loss)			433			1			263			(9	)		—			688			189			(78	)		111			799
	Less: provisions for loan losses			195			—			12			—			—			207			—			—			—			207
	Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses			238			1			251			(9	)		—			481			189			(78	)		111			592
	Other income (loss):
	Gains on sales of loans and investments			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Servicing revenue			11			174			21			—			(123	)		83			—			—			—			83
	Contingency revenue			—			104			—			—			—			104			—			—			—			104
	Gains on debt repurchases			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Other income (loss)			—			6			—			6			—			12			(189	)		59	(5)		(130	)		(118	)
	Total other income (loss)			11			284			21			6			(123	)		199			(189	)		59			(130	)		69
	Expenses:
	Direct operating expenses			85			103			129			4			(123	)		198			—			—			—			198
	Overhead expenses			—			—			—			59			—			59			—			—			—			59
	Operating expenses			85			103			129			63			(123	)		257			—			—			—			257
	Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			4			4			4
	Restructuring and other reorganization expenses			—			—			—			12			—			12			—			—			—			12
	Total expenses			85			103			129			75			(123	)		269			—			4			4			273
	Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)			164			182			143			(78	)		—			411			—			(23	)		(23	)		388
	Income tax expense (benefit)(3)			59			66			51			(28	)		—			148			—			(12	)		(12	)		136
	Net income (loss) from continuing operations			105			116			92			(50	)		—			263			—			(11	)		(11	)		252
	Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense			—			8			—			—			—			8			—			—			—			8
Net income (loss)			105			124			92			(50	)		—			271			—			(11	)		(11	)		260
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation		$	105		$	124		$	92		$	(50	)	$	—		$	271		$	—		$	(11	)	$	(11	)	$	260
(1)	The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
(2)	“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
		Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
(Dollars in millions)		Net Impact of			Net Impact of			Total
		Derivative			Goodwill and
		Accounting			Acquired  Intangibles
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses		$	111		$	—		$	111
Total other loss			(130	)		—			(130	)
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			4			4
“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP		$	(19	)	$	(4	)		(23	)
Income tax benefit									(12	)
Net loss								$	(11	)
(3)	Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.
(4)	Represents a portion of the $(4) million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
(5)	Represents the $62 million of “unrealized gains on derivative and hedging activities, net” as well as the remaining portion of the $(4) million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
		Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Dollars in millions)		Consumer			Business			FFELP			Other			Eliminations(1)			Total			Adjustments									Total
		Lending			Services			Loans									“Core												GAAP
																	Earnings”			Reclassifications			Additions/			Total
																							(Subtractions)			Adjustments(2)
Interest income:
Student loans		$	615		$	—		$	712		$	—		$	—		$	1,327		$	206		$	(78	)	$	128		$	1,455
Other loans			—			—			—			4			—			4			—			—			—			4
Cash and investments			2			2			3			—			(2	)		5			—			—			—			5
Total interest income			617			2			715			4			(2	)		1,336			206			(78	)		128			1,464
Total interest expense			209			—			399			12			(2	)		618			26			1	(4)		27			645
Net interest income (loss)			408			2			316			(8	)		—			718			180			(79	)		101			819
Less: provisions for loan losses			252			—			18			—			—			270			—			—			—			270
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses			156			2			298			(8	)		—			448			180			(79	)		101			549
Other income (loss):
Gains on sales of loans and investments			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Servicing revenue			12			201			22			—			(164	)		71			—			—			—			71
Contingency revenue			—			85			—			—			—			85			—			—			—			85
Gains on debt repurchases			—			—			—			44			—			44			—			—			—			44
Other income (loss)			—			7			—			3			—			10			(180	)		(61	)(5)		(241	)		(231	)
Total other income (loss)			12			293			22			47			(164	)		210			(180	)		(61	)		(241	)		(31	)
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses			68			88			171			3			(164	)		166			—			—			—			166
Overhead expenses			—			—			—			54			—			54			—			—			—			54
Operating expenses			68			88			171			57			(164	)		220			—			—			—			220
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			5			5			5
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses			1			—			—			1			—			2			—			—			—			2
Total expenses			69			88			171			58			(164	)		222			—			5			5			227
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)			99			207			149			(19	)		—			436			—			(145	)		(145	)		291
Income tax expense (benefit)(3)			36			76			55			(7	)		—			160			—			(56	)		(56	)		104
Net income (loss) from continuing operations			63			131			94			(12	)		—			276			—			(89	)		(89	)		187
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)			(1	)		1			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Net income (loss)			62			132			94			(12	)		—			276			—			(89	)		(89	)		187
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			—			(1	)		—			—			—			(1	)		—			—			—			(1	)
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation		$	62		$	133		$	94		$	(12	)	$	—		$	277		$	—		$	(89	)	$	(89	)	$	188
(1)	The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
(2)	“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
		Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Dollars in millions)		Net Impact of			Net Impact of			Total
		Derivative			Goodwill  and
		Accounting			Acquired  Intangibles
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses		$	101		$	—		$	101
Total other loss			(241	)		—			(241	)
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			5			5
“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP		$	(140	)	$	(5	)		(145	)
Income tax benefit									(56	)
Net loss								$	(89	)
(3)	Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.
(4)	Represents a portion of the $(9) million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
(5)	Represents the $(53) million of “unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” as well as the remaining portion of the $(9) million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
(Dollars in millions)		Consumer			Business			FFELP			Other			Eliminations(1)			Total			Adjustments									Total
		Lending			Services			Loans									“Core												GAAP
																	Earnings”			Reclassifications			Additions/			Total
																							(Subtractions)			Adjustments(2)
Interest income:
Student loans		$	1,884		$	—		$	1,755		$	—		$	—		$	3,639		$	612		$	(229	)	$	383		$	4,022
Other loans			—			—			—			9			—			9			—			—			—			9
Cash and investments			5			4			5			3			(4	)		13			—			—			—			13
Total interest income			1,889			4			1,760			12			(4	)		3,661			612			(229	)		383			4,044
Total interest expense			613			—			978			36			(4	)		1,623			44			(1	)(4)		43			1,666
Net interest income (loss)			1,276			4			782			(24	)		—			2,038			568			(228	)		340			2,378
Less: provisions for loan losses			607			—			42			—			—			649			—			—			—			649
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses			669			4			740			(24	)		—			1,389			568			(228	)		340			1,729
Other income (loss):
Gains (losses) on sales of loans and investments			—			—			312			(5	)		—			307			—			—			—			307
Servicing revenue			31			541			60			—			(409	)		223			—			—			—			223
Contingency revenue			—			312			—			—			—			312			—			—			—			312
Gains on debt repurchases			—			—			—			48			—			48			(6	)		—			(6	)		42
Other income (loss)			—			20			—			6			—			26			(562	)		462	(5)		(100	)		(74	)
Total other income (loss)			31			873			372			49			(409	)		916			(568	)		462			(106	)		810
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses			228			299			430			9			(409	)		557			—			—			—			557
Overhead expenses			—			—			—			180			—			180			—			—			—			180
Operating expenses			228			299			430			189			(409	)		737			—			—			—			737
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			10			10			10
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses			2			1			—			43			—			46			—			—			—			46
Total expenses			230			300			430			232			(409	)		783			—			10			10			793
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)			470			577			682			(207	)		—			1,522			—			224			224			1,746
Income tax expense (benefit)(3)			171			211			249			(75	)		—			556			—			89			89			645
Net income (loss) from continuing operations			299			366			433			(132	)		—			966			—			135			135			1,101
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)			(1	)		49			—			—			—			48			—			(1	)		(1	)		47
Net income (loss)			298			415			433			(132	)		—			1,014			—			134			134			1,148
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			—			(1	)		—			—			—			(1	)		—			—			—			(1	)
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation		$	298		$	416		$	433		$	(132	)	$	—		$	1,015		$	—		$	134		$	134		$	1,149
(1)	The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
(2)	“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
(Dollars in millions)		Net Impact of			Net Impact of			Total
		Derivative			Goodwill and
		Accounting			Acquired Intangibles
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses		$	340		$	—		$	340
Total other loss			(106	)		—			(106	)
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			10			10
“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP		$	234		$	(10	)		224
Income tax expense									89
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit									(1	)
Net income								$	134
(3)	Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.
(4)	Represents a portion of the $41 million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
(5)	Represents the $422 million of “unrealized gains on derivative and hedging activities, net” as well as the remaining portion of the $41 million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Dollars in millions)		Consumer			Business			FFELP			Other			Eliminations(1)			Total			Adjustments									Total
		Lending			Services			Loans									“Core												GAAP
																	Earnings”			Reclassifications			Additions/			Total
																							(Subtractions)			Adjustments(2)
Interest income:
Student loans		$	1,856		$	—		$	2,090		$	—		$	—		$	3,946		$	643		$	(274	)	$	369		$	4,315
Other loans			—			—			—			13			—			13			—			—			—			13
Cash and investments			6			5			10			—			(5	)		16			—			—			—			16
Total interest income			1,862			5			2,100			13			(5	)		3,975			643			(274	)		369			4,344
Total interest expense			616			—			1,233			26			(5	)		1,870			95			3	(4)		98			1,968
Net interest income (loss)			1,246			5			867			(13	)		—			2,105			548			(277	)		271			2,376
Less: provisions for loan losses			712			—			54			—			—			766			—			—			—			766
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses			534			5			813			(13	)		—			1,339			548			(277	)		271			1,610
Other income (loss):
Gains on sales of loans and investments			—			—			—			1			—			1			—			—			—			1
Servicing revenue			36			619			68			1			(512	)		212			—			—			—			212
Contingency revenue			—			261			—			—			—			261			—			—			—			261
Gains on debt repurchases			—			—			—			102			—			102			—			—			—			102
Other income (loss)			—			25			—			9			—			34			(548	)		(47	)(5)		(595	)		(561	)
Total other income (loss)			36			905			68			113			(512	)		610			(548	)		(47	)		(595	)		15
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses			199			269			537			10			(512	)		503			—			—			—			503
Overhead expenses			—			—			—			169			—			169			—			—			—			169
Operating expenses			199			269			537			179			(512	)		672			—			—			—			672
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			13			13			13
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses			3			2			—			4			—			9			—			—			—			9
Total expenses			202			271			537			183			(512	)		681			—			13			13			694
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)			368			639			344			(83	)		—			1,268			—			(337	)		(337	)		931
Income tax expense (benefit)(3)			134			234			126			(29	)		—			465			—			(125	)		(125	)		340
Net income (loss) from continuing operations			234			405			218			(54	)		—			803			—			(212	)		(212	)		591
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit			(1	)		—			—			—			—			(1	)		—			(1	)		(1	)		(2	)
Net income (loss)			233			405			218			(54	)		—			802			—			(213	)		(213	)		589
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			—			(2	)		—			—			—			(2	)		—			—			—			(2	)
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation		$	233		$	407		$	218		$	(54	)	$	—		$	804		$	—		$	(213	)	$	(213	)	$	591
(1)	The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
(2)	“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Dollars in millions)		Net Impact of			Net Impact of			Total
		Derivative			Goodwill and
		Accounting			Acquired Intangibles
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses		$	271		$	—		$	271
Total other loss			(595	)		—			(595	)
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			13			13
“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP		$	(324	)	$	(13	)		(337	)
Income tax benefit									(125	)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit									(1	)
Net loss								$	(213	)
(3)	Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.
(4)	Represents a portion of the $2 million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
(5)	Represents the $(52) million of “unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” as well as the remaining portion of the $2 million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
Summary of “Core Earnings” Adjustments to GAAP
The two adjustments required to reconcile from our “Core Earnings” results to our GAAP results of operations relate to differing treatments for: (1) our use of derivative instruments to hedge our economic risks that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment or do qualify for hedge accounting treatment but result in ineffectiveness and (2) the accounting for goodwill and acquired intangible assets. The following table reflects aggregate adjustments associated with these areas.
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
(Dollars in millions)		2013			2012			2013			2012
“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
Net impact of derivative accounting(1)		$	(19	)	$	(140	)	$	234		$	(324	)
Net impact of goodwill and acquired intangibles assets(2)			(4	)		(5	)		(10	)		(13	)
Net tax effect(3)			12			56			(89	)		125
Net effect from discontinued operations			—			—			(1	)		(1	)
Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP		$	(11	)	$	(89	)	$	134		$	(213	)
	(1)	Derivative accounting: “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses that are caused by the mark-to-market valuations on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under GAAP as well as the periodic unrealized gains and losses that are a result of ineffectiveness recognized related to effective hedges under GAAP. These unrealized gains and losses occur in our Consumer Lending, FFELP Loans and Other business segments. Under GAAP, for our derivatives that are held to maturity, the cumulative net unrealized gain or loss over the life of the contract will equal $0 except for Floor Income Contracts where the cumulative unrealized gain will equal the amount for which we sold the contract. In our “Core Earnings” presentation, we recognize the economic effect of these hedges, which generally results in any net settlement cash paid or received being recognized ratably as an interest expense or revenue over the hedged item’s life.
	(2)	Goodwill and acquired intangible assets: Our “Core Earnings” exclude goodwill and intangible asset impairment and amortization of acquired intangible assets.
	(3)	Net tax effect: Such tax effect is based upon our “Core Earnings” effective tax rate for the year.

Discontinued_Operations

Discontinued Operations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Discontinued Operations	11	Discontinued Operations
	In the second quarter of 2013, we sold our Campus Solutions business and recorded an after-tax gain of $38 million. This business provided processing capabilities to educational institutions. The Campus Solutions business comprises operations and cash flows that can be clearly distinguished operationally and for financial reporting purposes from the rest of the Company and we will have no continuing involvement. As a result, our Campus Solutions business is presented in discontinued operations for the current and prior periods.
	On September 25, 2013, we announced the sale of our 529 college savings plan administration business. Upon the transaction’s closing, which is anticipated to occur in the fourth-quarter 2013, we will recognize a gain of approximately $0.14 per diluted share. Due to the pending sale, the results of this business were moved to discontinued operations for all periods presented.
	The following table summarizes the discontinued operations.
			Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
			September 30,					September 30,
	(Dollars in millions)		2013			2012		2013			2012
	Operations:
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes		$	1		$	—	$	36		$	(3	)
	Income tax benefit			(7	)		—		(11	)		(1	)
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes		$	8		$	—	$	47		$	(2	)

Significant_Accounting_Policie1

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying unaudited, consolidated financial statements of SLM Corporation (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SLM Corporation and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries and those Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) for which we are the primary beneficiary, after eliminating the effects of intercompany accounts and transactions. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods have been included. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2013 or for any other period. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the “2012 Form 10-K”). Definitions for certain capitalized terms used in this document can be found in the 2012 Form 10-K.
Consolidation	Consolidation
	In the first six months of 2013, we sold Residual Interests in FFELP Loan securitization trusts to third parties. We will continue to service the student loans in the trusts under existing agreements. Prior to the sale of the Residual Interests, we had consolidated the trusts as VIEs because we had met the two criteria for consolidation. We had determined we were the primary beneficiary because (1) as servicer to the trust we had the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affected its economic performance and (2) as the residual holder of the trust, we had an obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits of the trust that could potentially be significant. Upon the sale of the Residual Interests we are no longer the residual holder, thus we determined we no longer met criterion (2) above and deconsolidated the trusts. As a result of these transactions, we removed securitization trust assets of $12.5 billion and the related liabilities of $12.1 billion from the balance sheet and recorded a $312 million gain as part of “gains on sales of loans and investments” for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications
	Certain reclassifications have been made to the balances as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 to be consistent with classifications adopted for 2013, and had no effect on net income, total assets, or total liabilities.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	On January 1, 2013, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), “Reporting Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” The objective of this new guidance is to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The impact of adopting this new guidance was immaterial and there was no impact on our results of operations.

Allowance_for_Loan_Losses_Tabl

Allowance for Loan Losses (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Allowance for Credit Losses and Recorded Investments in Loans	Allowance for Loan Losses Metrics
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
	(Dollars in millions)		FFELP Loans			Private Education			Other			Total
						Loans			Loans
	Allowance for Loan Losses
	Beginning balance		$	133		$	2,149		$	35		$	2,317
	Total provision			12			195			—			207
	Charge-offs(1)			(15	)		(205	)		(3	)		(223	)
	Reclassification of interest reserve(2)			—			5			—			5
	Ending balance		$	130		$	2,144		$	32		$	2,306
	Allowance:
	Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	1,091		$	24		$	1,115
	Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	130		$	1,053		$	8		$	1,191
	Loans:
	Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	8,982		$	49		$	9,031
	Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	105,422		$	31,640		$	91		$	137,153
	Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)			0.08	%		2.57	%		7.7	%
	Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)			0.06	%		2.48	%		7.7	%
	Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance			0.12	%		5.28	%		22.9	%
	Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment			0.17	%		6.77	%		22.9	%
	Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)			2.2			2.6			2.8
	Ending total loans(3)		$	105,422		$	40,622		$	140
	Average loans in repayment		$	78,012		$	31,630		$	148
	Ending loans in repayment		$	77,618		$	31,651		$	140
		(1)	Charge-offs are reported net of expected recoveries. For Private Education Loans, the expected recovery amount is transferred to the receivable for partially charged-off loan balance. Charge-offs include charge-offs against the receivable for partially charged-off loans which represents the difference between what was expected to be collected and any shortfalls in what was actually collected in the period. See “Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans” for further discussion.
		(2)	Represents the additional allowance related to the amount of uncollectible interest reserved within interest income that is transferred in the period to the allowance for loan losses when interest is capitalized to a loan’s principal balance.
		(3)	Ending total loans for Private Education Loans includes the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
	(Dollars in millions)		FFELP Loans			Private Education			Other			Total
						Loans			Loans
	Allowance for Loan Losses
	Beginning balance		$	173		$	2,186		$	59		$	2,418
	Total provision			18			252			—			270
	Charge-offs(1)			(23	)		(250	)		(6	)		(279	)
	Student loan sales			(2	)		—			—			(2	)
	Reclassification of interest reserve(2)			—			8			—			8
	Ending balance		$	166		$	2,196		$	53		$	2,415
	Allowance:
	Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	1,056		$	40		$	1,096
	Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	166		$	1,140		$	13		$	1,319
	Loans:
	Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	7,099		$	76		$	7,175
	Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	126,441		$	33,012		$	146		$	159,599
	Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)			0.1	%		3.23	%		9.58	%
	Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)			0.08	%		3.11	%		9.58	%
	Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance			0.13	%		5.48	%		23.92	%
	Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment			0.18	%		7.09	%		23.92	%
	Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)			1.8			2.2			2.4
	Ending total loans(3)		$	126,441		$	40,111		$	222
	Average loans in repayment		$	90,898		$	30,816		$	231
	Ending loans in repayment		$	90,481		$	30,972		$	222
		(1)	Charge-offs are reported net of expected recoveries. For Private Education Loans, the expected recovery amount is transferred to the receivable for partially charged-off loan balance. Charge-offs include charge-offs against the receivable for partially charged-off loans which represents the difference between what was expected to be collected and any shortfalls in what was actually collected in the period. See “Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans” for further discussion.
		(2)	Represents the additional allowance related to the amount of uncollectible interest reserved within interest income that is transferred in the period to the allowance for loan losses when interest is capitalized to a loan’s principal balance.
		(3)	Ending total loans for Private Education Loans includes the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
	(Dollars in millions)		FFELP Loans			Private Education			Other			Total
						Loans			Loans
	Allowance for Loan Losses
	Beginning balance		$	159		$	2,171		$	47		$	2,377
	Total provision			42			607			—			649
	Charge-offs(1)			(57	)		(649	)		(15	)		(721	)
	Student loan sales			(14	)		—			—			(14	)
	Reclassification of interest reserve(2)			—			15			—			15
	Ending balance		$	130		$	2,144		$	32		$	2,306
Allowance:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	1,091		$	24		$	1,115
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	130		$	1,053		$	8		$	1,191
Loans:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	8,982		$	49		$	9,031
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	105,422		$	31,640		$	91		$	137,153
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)			0.09	%		2.74	%		12.14	%
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)			0.08	%		2.65	%		12.14	%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance			0.12	%		5.28	%		22.9	%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment			0.17	%		6.77	%		22.9	%
Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)			1.7			2.5			1.6
Ending total loans(3)		$	105,422		$	40,622		$	140
Average loans in repayment		$	82,196		$	31,631		$	163
Ending loans in repayment		$	77,618		$	31,651		$	140
	(1)	Charge-offs are reported net of expected recoveries. For Private Education Loans, the expected recovery amount is transferred to the receivable for partially charged-off loan balance. Charge-offs include charge-offs against the receivable for partially charged-off loans which represents the difference between what was expected to be collected and any shortfalls in what was actually collected in the period. See “Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans” for further discussion.
	(2)	Represents the additional allowance related to the amount of uncollectible interest reserved within interest income that is transferred in the period to the allowance for loan losses when interest is capitalized to a loan’s principal balance.
	(3)	Ending total loans for Private Education Loans includes the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Dollars in millions)		FFELP Loans			Private Education			Other			Total
					Loans			Loans
Allowance for Loan Losses
Beginning balance		$	187		$	2,171		$	69		$	2,427
Total provision			54			712			—			766
Charge-offs(1)			(68	)		(709	)		(16	)		(793	)
Student loan sales			(7	)		—			—			(7	)
Reclassification of interest reserve(2)			—			22			—			22
Ending balance		$	166		$	2,196		$	53		$	2,415
Allowance:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	1,056		$	40		$	1,096
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	166		$	1,140		$	13		$	1,319
Loans:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment		$	—		$	7,099		$	76		$	7,175
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment		$	126,441		$	33,012		$	146		$	159,599
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)			0.1	%		3.1	%		8.79	%
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)			0.08	%		2.97	%		8.79	%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance			0.13	%		5.48	%		23.92	%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment			0.18	%		7.09	%		23.92	%
Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)			1.8			2.3			2.5
Ending total loans(3)		$	126,441		$	40,111		$	222
Average loans in repayment		$	92,157		$	30,577		$	242
Ending loans in repayment		$	90,481		$	30,972		$	222
	(1)	Charge-offs are reported net of expected recoveries. For Private Education Loans, the expected recovery amount is transferred to the receivable for partially charged-off loan balance. Charge-offs include charge-offs against the receivable for partially charged-off loans which represents the difference between what was expected to be collected and any shortfalls in what was actually collected in the period. See “Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Private Education Loans” for further discussion.
	(2)	Represents the additional allowance related to the amount of uncollectible interest reserved within interest income that is transferred in the period to the allowance for loan losses when interest is capitalized to a loan’s principal balance.
	(3)	Ending total loans for Private Education Loans includes the receivable for partially charged-off loans.
Private Education Loan Portfolio Stratified by Key Credit Quality Indicators	The following table highlights the principal balance (excluding the receivable for partially charged-off loans) of our Private Education Loan portfolio stratified by the key credit quality indicators.
			Private Education Loans
			Credit Quality Indicators
			September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Balance(3)			% of Balance			Balance(3)			% of Balance
	Credit Quality Indicators
	School Type/FICO Scores:
	Traditional		$	36,353			93	%	$	35,347			92	%
	Non-Traditional(1)			2,947			7			3,207			8
	Total		$	39,300			100	%	$	38,554			100	%
	Cosigners:
	With cosigner		$	26,277			67	%	$	24,907			65	%
	Without cosigner			13,023			33			13,647			35
	Total		$	39,300			100	%	$	38,554			100	%
	Seasoning(2):
	1-12 payments		$	5,855			15	%	$	7,371			19	%
	13-24 payments			5,765			15			6,137			16
	25-36 payments			6,227			16			6,037			16
	37-48 payments			4,871			12			4,780			12
	More than 48 payments			10,041			25			8,325			22
	Not yet in repayment			6,541			17			5,904			15
	Total		$	39,300			100	%	$	38,554			100	%
		(1)	Defined as loans to customers attending for-profit schools (with a FICO score of less than 670 at origination) and customers attending not-for-profit schools (with a FICO score of less than 640 at origination).
		(2)	Number of months in active repayment for which a scheduled payment was due.
		(3)	Balance represents gross Private Education Loans.
Age Analysis of Past Due Loans Delinquencies	The following tables provide information regarding the loan status and aging of past due loans.
			FFELP Loan Delinquencies
			September 30,						December 31,
			2013						2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Balance			%			Balance			%
	Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)		$	14,613					$	17,702
	Loans in forbearance(2)			13,191						15,902
	Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
	Loans current			64,144			82.6	%		75,499			83.2	%
	Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)			3,798			4.9			4,710			5.2
	Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)			2,734			3.5			2,788			3.1
	Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)			6,942			9			7,734			8.5
	Total FFELP Loans in repayment			77,618			100	%		90,731			100	%
	Total FFELP Loans, gross			105,422						124,335
	FFELP Loan unamortized premium			1,058						1,436
	Total FFELP Loans			106,480						125,771
	FFELP Loan allowance for losses			(130	)					(159	)
	FFELP Loans, net		$	106,350					$	125,612
	Percentage of FFELP Loans in repayment						73.6	%					73	%
	Delinquencies as a percentage of FFELP Loans in repayment						17.4	%					16.8	%
	FFELP Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance						14.5	%					14.9	%
		(1)	Loans for customers who may still be attending school or engaging in other permitted educational activities and are not required to make payments on their loans, e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation, as well as loans for customers who have requested and qualify for other permitted program deferments such as military, unemployment, or economic hardships.
		(2)	Loans for customers who have used their allowable deferment time or do not qualify for deferment, that need additional time to obtain employment or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors.
		(3)	The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.
			Private Education Traditional Loan
			Delinquencies
			September 30,						December 31,
			2013						2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Balance			%			Balance			%
	Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)		$	6,112					$	5,421
	Loans in forbearance(2)			971						996
	Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
	Loans current			27,015			92.3	%		26,597			91.9	%
	Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)			812			2.8			837			2.9
	Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)			519			1.7			375			1.3
	Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)			924			3.2			1,121			3.9
	Total traditional loans in repayment			29,270			100	%		28,930			100	%
	Total traditional loans, gross			36,353						35,347
	Traditional loans unamortized discount			(650	)					(713	)
	Total traditional loans			35,703						34,634
	Traditional loans receivable for partially charged-off loans			798						797
	Traditional loans allowance for losses			(1,611	)					(1,637	)
	Traditional loans, net		$	34,890					$	33,794
	Percentage of traditional loans in repayment						80.5	%					81.9	%
	Delinquencies as a percentage of traditional loans in repayment						7.7	%					8.1	%
	Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance						3.2	%					3.3	%
		(1)	Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not required to make payments on their loans, e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation.
		(2)	Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.
		(3)	The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.
			Private Education Non-Traditional
			Loan Delinquencies
			September 30,						December 31,
			2013						2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Balance			%			Balance			%
	Loans in-school/grace/deferment(1)		$	429					$	483
	Loans in forbearance(2)			137						140
	Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
	Loans current			1,841			77.3	%		1,978			76.5	%
	Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)			154			6.5			175			6.8
	Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)			122			5.1			106			4.1
	Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)			264			11.1			325			12.6
	Total non-traditional loans in repayment			2,381			100	%		2,584			100	%
	Total non-traditional loans, gross			2,947						3,207
	Non-traditional loans unamortized discount			(76	)					(83	)
Total non-traditional loans			2,871						3,124
Non-traditional loans receivable for partially charged-off loans			524						550
Non-traditional loans allowance for losses			(533	)					(534	)
Non-traditional loans, net		$	2,862					$	3,140
Percentage of non-traditional loans in repayment						80.8	%					80.6	%
Delinquencies as a percentage of non-traditional loans in repayment						22.7	%					23.4	%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance						5.4	%					5.1	%
	(1)	Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not required to make payments on their loans, e.g., residency periods for medical students or a grace period for bar exam preparation.
	(2)	Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.
	(3)	The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.
Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Loans	The following table summarizes the activity in the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans.
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,
	(Dollars in millions)		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Receivable at beginning of period		$	1,334		$	1,277		$	1,347		$	1,241
	Expected future recoveries of current period defaults(1)			68			86			216			237
	Recoveries(2)			(55	)		(45	)		(177	)		(139	)
	Charge-offs(3)			(25	)		(15	)		(64	)		(36	)
	Receivable at end of period			1,322			1,303			1,322			1,303
	Allowance for estimated recovery shortfalls(4)			(329	)		(187	)		(329	)		(187	)
	Net receivable at end of period		$	993		$	1,116		$	993		$	1,116
		(1)	Represents the difference between the loan balance and our estimate of the amount to be collected in the future.
		(2)	Current period cash collections.
		(3)	Represents the current period recovery shortfall — the difference between what was expected to be collected and what was actually collected. These amounts are included in the Private Education Loan total charge-offs as reported in the “Allowance for Loan Losses Metrics” tables.
		(4)	The allowance for estimated recovery shortfalls of the receivable for partially charged-off Private Education Loans is a component of the $2.1 billion and $2.2 billion overall allowance for Private Education Loan losses as of September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Allowance Related for TDR	The following table provides the recorded investment, unpaid principal balance and related allowance for our TDR loans.
			TDR Loans
	(Dollars in millions)		Recorded			Unpaid			Related
			Investment(1)			Principal			Allowance
						Balance
	September 30, 2013
	Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	7,251		$	7,307		$	830
	Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			1,423			1,424			261
	Total		$	8,674		$	8,731		$	1,091
	December 31, 2012
	Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	5,999		$	6,074		$	844
	Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			1,295			1,303			282
	Total		$	7,294		$	7,377		$	1,126
		(1)	The recorded investment is equal to the unpaid principal balance and accrued interest receivable net of unamortized deferred fees and costs.
Average Recorded Investment and Interest Income Recognized for TDR	The following table provides the average recorded investment and interest income recognized for our TDR loans.
			Three Months Ended September 30,
			2013						2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Average			Interest			Average			Interest
			Recorded			Income			Recorded			Income
			Investment			Recognized			Investment			Recognized
	Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	7,246		$	108		$	5,481		$	87
	Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			1,477			29			1,274			27
	Total		$	8,723		$	137		$	6,755		$	114
			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013						2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Average			Interest			Average			Interest
			Recorded			Income			Recorded			Income
			Investment			Recognized			Investment			Recognized
	Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	6,768		$	304		$	5,010		$	241
	Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			1,420			83			1,197			78
	Total		$	8,188		$	387		$	6,207		$	319
Modified Loans Accounts for TDR	The following table provides the amount of modified loans that resulted in a TDR in the periods presented. Additionally, the table summarizes charge-offs occurring in the TDR portfolio, as well as TDRs for which a payment default occurred in the current period within 12 months of the loan first being designated as a TDR. We define payment default as 60 days past due for this disclosure. The majority of our loans that are considered TDRs involve a temporary forbearance of payments and do not change the contractual interest rate of the loan.
			Three Months Ended September 30,
			2013									2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Modified			Charge-			Payment			Modified			Charge-		Payment
			Loans(1)			Offs(2)			Default			Loans(1)			Offs(2)		Default
	Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	651		$	88		$	168		$	573		$	96	$	332
	Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			94			32			48			101			37		97
	Total		$	745		$	120		$	216		$	674		$	133	$	429
			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013									2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Modified			Charge-			Payment			Modified			Charge-		Payment
			Loans(1)			Offs(2)			Default			Loans(1)			Offs(2)		Default
	Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	1,686		$	269		$	547		$	1,783		$	244	$	1,111
	Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			259			97			150			346			99		350
	Total		$	1,945		$	366		$	697		$	2,129		$	343	$	1,461
	(1)	Represents period ending balance of loans that have been modified during the period and resulted in a TDR.
	(2)	Represents loans that charged off that were classified as TDRs.
Accrued Interest Receivable	The allowance for uncollectible interest exceeds the amount of accrued interest on our 90 days past due portfolio for all periods presented.
			Accrued Interest Receivable
	(Dollars in millions)		Total			Greater Than			Allowance for
						90 Days			Uncollectible
						Past Due			Interest
	September 30, 2013
	Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	940		$	33		$	46
	Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			97			13			21
	Total		$	1,037		$	46		$	67
	December 31, 2012
	Private Education Loans — Traditional		$	798		$	39		$	45
	Private Education Loans — Non-Traditional			106			16			22
	Total		$	904		$	55		$	67
Troubled Debt Restructured Loans [Member]
Age Analysis of Past Due Loans Delinquencies	The following table provides information regarding the loan status and aging of TDR loans that are past due.
			TDR Loan Delinquencies
			September 30,						December 31, 2012
			2013
	(Dollars in millions)		Balance			%			Balance			%
	Loans in deferment(1)		$	789					$	574
	Loans in forbearance(2)			768						544
	Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
	Loans current			5,384			75.1	%		4,619			73.8	%
	Loans delinquent 31-60 days(3)			555			7.7			478			7.6
	Loans delinquent 61-90 days(3)			408			5.7			254			4.1
	Loans delinquent greater than 90 days(3)			827			11.5			908			14.5
	Total TDR loans in repayment			7,174			100	%		6,259			100	%
	Total TDR loans, gross		$	8,731					$	7,377
		(1)	Deferment includes loans for customers who have returned to school and are not currently required to make payments on their loans.
		(2)	Loans for customers who have requested extension of grace period generally during employment transition or who have temporarily ceased making full payments due to hardship or other factors, consistent with established loan program servicing policies and procedures.
		(3)	The period of delinquency is based on the number of days scheduled payments are contractually past due.

Borrowings_Tables

Borrowings (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Company's Borrowings	The following table summarizes our borrowings.
			September 30, 2013									December 31, 2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Short		Long			Total				Short		Long		Total
			Term		Term							Term		Term
	Unsecured borrowings:
	Senior unsecured debt		$	3,201	$	15,509		$	18,710			$	2,319	$	15,446	$	17,765
	Bank deposits			5,732		1,896			7,628				4,226		3,088		7,314
	Other(1)			806		—			806				1,609		—		1,609
	Total unsecured borrowings			9,739		17,405			27,144				8,154		18,534		26,688
	Secured borrowings:
	FFELP Loan securitizations			—		91,690			91,690				—		105,525		105,525
	Private Education Loan securitizations			—		19,434			19,434				—		19,656		19,656
	FFELP Loans — other facilities			5,794		5,394			11,188				11,651		4,827		16,478
	Private Education Loans — other facilities			—		878			878				—		1,070		1,070
	Total secured borrowings			5,794		117,396			123,190				11,651		131,078		142,729
	Total before hedge accounting adjustments			15,533		134,801			150,334				19,805		149,612		169,417
	Hedge accounting adjustments			39		2,143			2,182				51		2,789		2,840
	Total		$	15,572	$	136,944		$	152,516			$	19,856	$	152,401	$	172,257
	(1)	“Other” primarily consists of the obligation to return cash collateral held related to derivative exposures.
Financing VIEs	We consolidate the following financing VIEs:
			September 30, 2013
			Debt Outstanding									Carrying Amount of Assets Securing
												Debt Outstanding
	(Dollars in millions)		Short		Long			Total				Loans		Cash		Other Assets		Total
			Term		Term
	Secured Borrowings — VIEs:
	FFELP Loan securitizations		$	—	$	91,690		$	91,690			$	92,865	$	3,538	$	715	$	97,118
	Private Education Loan securitizations			—		19,434			19,434				24,413		337		575		25,325
	FFELP Loans — other facilities			4,678		3,777			8,455				8,762		151		108		9,021
	Private Education Loans — other facilities			—		878			878				1,605		18		31		1,654
	Total before hedge accounting adjustments			4,678		115,779			120,457				127,645		4,044		1,429		133,118
	Hedge accounting adjustments			—		1,189			1,189				—		—		951		951
	Total		$	4,678	$	116,968		$	121,646			$	127,645	$	4,044	$	2,380	$	134,069
			December 31, 2012
			Debt Outstanding									Carrying Amount of Assets Securing
												Debt Outstanding
	(Dollars in millions)		Short		Long			Total				Loans		Cash		Other Assets		Total
			Term		Term
	Secured Borrowings — VIEs:
	FFELP Loan securitizations		$	—	$	105,525		$	105,525			$	107,009	$	3,652	$	608	$	111,269
	Private Education Loan securitizations			—		19,656			19,656				24,618		385		545		25,548
	FFELP Loans — other facilities			9,551		4,154			13,705				14,050		487		197		14,734
	Private Education Loans — other facilities			—		1,070			1,070				1,454		302		33		1,789
	Total before hedge accounting adjustments			9,551		130,405			139,956				147,131		4,826		1,383		153,340
	Hedge accounting adjustments			—		1,113			1,113				—		—		929		929
	Total		$	9,551	$	131,518		$	141,069			$	147,131	$	4,826	$	2,312	$	154,269
Summary of Securitization Transactions	The following table summarizes the securitization transactions that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2012 and the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	(Dollars in millions)							AAA-rated bonds
	Issue		Date Issued		Total			Weighted Average		Weighted
					Issued			Interest Rate		Average
										Life
	FFELP:
	2012-1			January 2012	$	765		1 month LIBOR plus 0.91%			4.6 years
	2012-2			March 2012		824		1 month LIBOR plus 0.70%			4.7 years
	2012-3			May-12		1,252		1 month LIBOR plus 0.65%			4.6 years
	2012-4			Jun-12		1,491	(1)	1 month LIBOR plus 1.10%			8.2 years
	2011-3			Jul-12		24		N/A (Retained B Notes sold)
	2012-4			Jul-12		45		N/A (Retained B Notes sold)
	2012-5			Jul-12		1,252		1 month LIBOR plus 0.67%			4.5 years
	2012-6			September 2012		1,249		1 month LIBOR plus 0.62%			4.6 years
	2012-7			Nov-12		1,251		1 month LIBOR plus 0.55%			4.5 years
	2012-8			Dec-12		1,527		1 month LIBOR plus 0.90%			7.8 years
	Total bonds issued in 2012				$	9,680
	Total loan amount securitized in 2012				$	9,565
	2013-1			February 2013	$	1,249		1 month LIBOR plus 0.46%			4.3 years
	2013-2			April 2013		1,246		1 month LIBOR plus 0.45%			4.4 years
	2013-3			June 2013		1,246		1 month LIBOR plus 0.54%			4.5 years
	2013-4			August 2013		747		1 month LIBOR plus 0.55%			4.4 years
	2013-5			September 2013		996		1 month LIBOR plus 0.64%			4.6 years
	Total bonds issued in nine months ended September 30, 2013				$	5,484
	Total loan amount securitized in nine months ended September 30, 2013				$	5,496
	Private Education:
	2012-A			February 2012	$	547		1 month LIBOR plus 2.17%			3.0 years
	2012-B			Apr-12		891		1 month LIBOR plus 2.12%			2.9 years
	2012-C			May-12		1,135		1 month LIBOR plus 1.77%			2.6 years
	2012-D			Jul-12		640		1 month LIBOR plus 1.69%			2.5 years
	2012-E			Oct-12		976		1 month LIBOR plus 1.22%			2.6 years
	Total bonds issued in 2012				$	4,189
	Total loan amount securitized in 2012				$	5,557
	2013-R1			Jan-13	$	254		1 month LIBOR plus 1.75%			6.3 years
	2013-A			March 2013		1,108		1 month LIBOR plus 0.81%			2.6 years
	2013-B			May 2013		1,135		1 month LIBOR plus 0.89%			2.7 years
	2013-C			September 2013		624		1 month LIBOR plus 1.21%			3.1 years
	Total bonds issued in nine months ended September 30, 2013				$	3,121
	Total loan amount securitized in nine months ended September 30, 2013				$	3,387
	(1)	Total size excludes subordinated tranche that was retained at issuance totaling $45 million.

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen1

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Balance Sheet	Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Balance Sheet
					Cash Flow								Fair Value								Trading								Total
	(Dollars in millions)		Hedged Risk		Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,				Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,				Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,				Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,
			Exposure		2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012
	Fair Values(1)
	Derivative Assets:
	Interest rate swaps		Interest rate		$	16			$	—			$	881			$	1,396			$	69			$	150			$	966			$	1,546
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps		Foreign currency			—				—				1,163				1,165				1				70				1,164				1,235
			& interest rate
	Other(2)		Interest rate			—				—				—				—				3				4				3				4
	Total derivative assets(3)					16				—				2,044				2,561				73				224				2,133				2,785
	Derivative Liabilities:
	Interest rate swaps		Interest rate			(1	)			(11	)			(98	)			(1	)			(202	)			(197	)			(301	)			(209	)
	Floor Income Contracts		Interest rate			—				—				—				—				(1,564	)			(2,154	)			(1,564	)			(2,154	)
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps		Foreign currency			—				—				(175	)			(136	)			(7	)			—				(182	)			(136	)
			& interest rate
	Other(2)		Interest rate			—				—				—				—				(21	)			—				(21	)			—
	Total derivative liabilities(3)					(1	)			(11	)			(273	)			(137	)			(1,794	)			(2,351	)			(2,068	)			(2,499	)
	Net total derivatives				$	15			$	(11	)		$	1,771			$	2,424			$	(1,721	)		$	(2,127	)		$	65			$	286
	(1)	Fair values reported are exclusive of collateral held and pledged and accrued interest. Assets and liabilities are presented without consideration of master netting agreements. Derivatives are carried on the balance sheet based on net position by counterparty under master netting agreements, and classified in other assets or other liabilities depending on whether in a net receivable or payable position.
	(2)	“Other” includes embedded derivatives bifurcated from securitization debt as well as derivatives related to our Total Return Swap Facility and back-to-back private credit floors.
	(3)	The following table reconciles gross positions without the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification:
Gross Positions without Impact of Netting Agreements	(3)	The following table reconciles gross positions without the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification:
			Other Assets								Other Liabilities
	(Dollar in millions)		September 30,				December 31,				September 30,				December 31,
			2013				2012				2013				2012
	Gross position		$	2,133			$	2,785			$	(2,068	)		$	(2,499	)
	Impact of master netting agreements			(404	)			(544	)			404				544
	Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet)			1,729				2,241				(1,664	)			(1,955	)
	Cash collateral (held) pledged			(804	)			(1,423	)			872				973
	Net position		$	925			$	818			$	(792	)		$	(982	)
Derivative Notional Values
			Cash Flow								Fair Value								Trading								Total
	(Dollars in billions)		Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,				Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,				Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,				Sept. 30,				Dec. 31,
			2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012
	Notional Values:
	Interest rate swaps		$	0.5			$	0.7			$	16.7			$	15.8			$	48			$	56.9			$	65.2			$	73.4
	Floor Income Contracts			—				—				—				—				31.8				51.6				31.8				51.6
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			—				—				11.7				13.7				0.3				0.3				12				14
	Other(1)			—				—				—				—				3.3				1.4				3.3				1.4
	Total derivatives		$	0.5			$	0.7			$	28.4			$	29.5			$	83.4			$	110.2			$	112.3			$	140.4
	(1)	“Other” includes embedded derivatives bifurcated from securitization debt, as well as derivatives related to our Total Return Swap Facility and back to back private credit floors.
Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income	Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income
			Three Months Ended September 30,
			Unrealized								Realized								Unrealized								Total Gain
			Gain								Gain								Gain								(Loss)
			(Loss) on								(Loss) on								(Loss) on
			Derivatives(1)(2)								Derivatives(3)								Hedged
																			Item(1)
	(Dollars in millions)		2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012
	Fair Value Hedges:
	Interest rate swaps		$	(36	)		$	20			$	103			$	111			$	33			$	(33	)		$	100			$	98
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			482				203				29				37				(531	)			(239	)			(20	)			1
	Total fair value derivatives			446				223				132				148				(498	)			(272	)			80				99
	Cash Flow Hedges:
	Interest rate swaps			—				—				(1	)			(6	)			—				—				(1	)			(6	)
	Total cash flow derivatives			—				—				(1	)			(6	)			—				—				(1	)			(6	)
	Trading:
	Interest rate swaps			(8	)			(6	)			21				24				—				—				13				18
	Floor Income Contracts			115				(12	)			(201	)			(206	)			—				—				(86	)			(218	)
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			3				14				—				2				—				—				3				16
	Other			(4	)			—				(1	)			—				—				—				(5	)			—
	Total trading derivatives			106				(4	)			(181	)			(180	)			—				—				(75	)			(184	)
	Total			552				219				(50	)			(38	)			(498	)			(272	)			4				(91	)
	Less: realized gains (losses) recorded in interest expense			—				—				131				142				—				—				131				142
	Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net		$	552			$	219			$	(181	)		$	(180	)		$	(498	)		$	(272	)		$	(127	)		$	(233	)
	(1)	Recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
	(2)	Represents ineffectiveness related to cash flow hedges.
	(3)	For fair value and cash flow hedges, recorded in interest expense. For trading derivatives, recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net.”
			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			Unrealized								Realized								Unrealized								Total Gain
			Gain								Gain								Gain								(Loss)
			(Loss) on								(Loss) on								(Loss) on
			Derivatives(1)(2)								Derivatives(3)								Hedged
																			Item(1)
	(Dollars in millions)		2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012				2013				2012
	Fair Value Hedges:
	Interest rate swaps		$	(613	)		$	66			$	317			$	339			$	671			$	(98	)		$	375			$	307
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			(40	)			(260	)			76				139				(58	)			126				(22	)			5
	Total fair value derivatives			(653	)			(194	)			393				478				613				28				353				312
	Cash Flow Hedges:
	Interest rate swaps			—				(1	)			(6	)			(21	)			—				—				(6	)			(22	)
	Total cash flow derivatives			—				(1	)			(6	)			(21	)			—				—				(6	)			(22	)
	Trading:
	Interest rate swaps			(85	)			(55	)			58				91				—				—				(27	)			36
	Floor Income Contracts			601				174				(612	)			(643	)			—				—				(11	)			(469	)
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			(76	)			(9	)			31				5				—				—				(45	)			(4	)
	Other			(16	)			5				(1	)			(1	)			—				—				(17	)			4
	Total trading derivatives			424				115				(524	)			(548	)			—				—				(100	)			(433	)
	Total			(229	)			(80	)			(137	)			(91	)			613				28				247				(143	)
	Less: realized gains (losses) recorded in interest expense			—				—				387				457				—				—				387				457
	Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net		$	(229	)		$	(80	)		$	(524	)		$	(548	)		$	613			$	28			$	(140	)		$	(600	)
	(1)	Recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
	(2)	Represents ineffectiveness related to cash flow hedges.
	(3)	For fair value and cash flow hedges, recorded in interest expense. For trading derivatives, recorded in “Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net.”
Collateral Held and Pledged	Collateral held and pledged related to derivative exposures between us and our derivative counterparties are detailed in the following table:
	(Dollars in millions)		September 30,				December 31,
			2013				2012
	Collateral held:
	Cash (obligation to return cash collateral is recorded in short-term borrowings)(1)		$	804			$	1,423
	Securities at fair value — on-balance sheet securitization derivatives (not recorded in financial statements)(2)			555				613
	Total collateral held		$	1,359			$	2,036
	Derivative asset at fair value including accrued interest		$	1,946			$	2,570
	Collateral pledged to others:
	Cash (right to receive return of cash collateral is recorded in investments)		$	872			$	973
	Total collateral pledged		$	872			$	973
	Derivative liability at fair value including accrued interest and premium receivable		$	1,072			$	1,204
	(1)	At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $0 and $9 million, respectively, were held in restricted cash accounts.
	(2)	The trusts do not have the ability to sell or re-pledge securities they hold as collateral.

Other_Assets_Tables

Other Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Other Assets	The following table provides the detail of our other assets.
		September 30, 2013					December 31, 2012
	(Dollars in millions)	Ending		% of			Ending		% of
		Balance		Balance			Balance		Balance
	Accrued interest receivable, net	$	2,167		29	%	$	2,147		26	%
	Derivatives at fair value		1,729		23			2,241		27
	Income tax asset, net current and deferred		1,344		18			1,478		18
	Accounts receivable		873		12			1,111		13
	Benefit and insurance-related investments		477		6			474		6
	Fixed assets, net		240		3			215		3
	Other loans, net		108		1			137		2
	Other		482		8			470		5
	Total	$	7,420		100	%	$	8,273		100	%

Stockholders_Equity_Tables

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]
Common Share Repurchases and Issuances	The following table summarizes our common share repurchases and issuances.
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2013		2012		2013		2012
	Common shares repurchased(1)			—		7,643,999		19,316,948		48,184,145
	Average purchase price per share(2)		$	—	$	15.81	$	20.72	$	15.16
	Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans(3)			251,570		1,253,922		5,616,933		3,660,554
	Average purchase price per share		$	24.73	$	16.13	$	21.23	$	15.56
	Common shares issued(4)			326,789		1,654,506		8,600,008		5,252,158
		(1)	Common shares purchased under our share repurchase program, of which $400 million remained available as of September 30, 2013.
		(2)	Average purchase price per share includes purchase commission costs.
		(3)	Comprises shares withheld from stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock for employees’ tax withholding obligations and shares tendered by employees to satisfy option exercise costs.
		(4)	Common shares issued under our various compensation and benefit plans.

Earnings_Per_Common_Share_Tabl

Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Common Share	A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS calculations follows.
			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
	(In millions, except per share data)		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to SLM Corporation		$	260	$	188	$	1,149	$	591
	Preferred stock dividends			5		5		15		15
	Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock		$	255	$	183	$	1,134	$	576
	Denominator:
	Weighted average shares used to compute basic EPS			436		464		442		483
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Dilutive effect of stock options, non-vested deferred compensation and restricted stock, restricted stock units and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”)(1)			9		7		8		7
	Dilutive potential common shares(2)			9		7		8		7
	Weighted average shares used to compute diluted EPS			445		471		450		490
	Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to SLM Corporation:
	Continuing operations		$	0.56	$	0.39	$	2.46	$	1.19
	Discontinued operations			0.02		—		0.1		—
	Total		$	0.58	$	0.39	$	2.56	$	1.19
	Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to SLM Corporation:
	Continuing operations		$	0.55	$	0.39	$	2.42	$	1.18
	Discontinued operations			0.02		—		0.1		—
	Total		$	0.57	$	0.39	$	2.52	$	1.18
	(1)	Includes the potential dilutive effect of additional common shares that are issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options, non-vested deferred compensation and restricted stock, restricted stock units, and the outstanding commitment to issue shares under the ESPP, determined by the treasury stock method.
	(2)	For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, securities covering approximately 3 million and 10 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, securities covering approximately 4 million and 13 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Valuation of Financial Instruments that are Marked-to-Market on Recurring Basis	The following table summarizes the valuation of our financial instruments that are marked-to-market on a recurring basis.
			Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
			September 30, 2013												December 31, 2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Assets
	Available-for-sale investments:
	Agency residential mortgage-backed securities		$	—		$	77		$	—		$	77		$	—		$	63		$	—		$	63
	Guaranteed investment contracts			—			8			—			8			—			9			—			9
	Other			—			8			—			8			—			9			—			9
	Total available-for-sale investments			—			93			—			93			—			81			—			81
	Derivative instruments:(1)
	Interest rate swaps			—			917			49			966			—			1,444			102			1,546
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			—			32			1,132			1,164			—			48			1,187			1,235
	Other			—			—			3			3			—			—			4			4
	Total derivative assets(3)			—			949			1,184			2,133			—			1,492			1,293			2,785
	Total		$	—		$	1,042		$	1,184		$	2,226		$	—		$	1,573		$	1,293		$	2,866
	Liabilities(2)
	Derivative instruments(1)
	Interest rate swaps		$	—		$	(164	)	$	(137	)	$	(301	)	$	—		$	(34	)	$	(175	)	$	(209	)
	Floor Income Contracts			—			(1,564	)		—			(1,564	)		—			(2,154	)		—			(2,154	)
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			—			(11	)		(171	)		(182	)		—			(2	)		(134	)		(136	)
	Other			—			—			(21	)		(21	)		—			—			—			—
	Total derivative liabilities(3)			—			(1,739	)		(329	)		(2,068	)		—			(2,190	)		(309	)		(2,499	)
	Total		$	—		$	(1,739	)	$	(329	)	$	(2,068	)	$	—		$	(2,190	)	$	(309	)	$	(2,499	)
	(1)	Fair value of derivative instruments excludes accrued interest and the value of collateral.
	(2)	Borrowings which are the hedged items in a fair value hedge relationship and which are adjusted for changes in value due to benchmark interest rates only are not carried at full fair value and are not reflected in this table.
	(3)	See “Note 4 — Derivative Financial Instruments” for a reconciliation of gross positions without the impact of master netting agreements to the balance sheet classification.
Change in Balance Sheet Carrying Value Associated with Level 3 Financial Instruments Carried at Fair Value on Recurring Basis	The following tables summarize the change in balance sheet carrying value associated with level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value on a recurring basis.
			Three Months Ended September 30,
			2013												2012
			Derivative instruments												Derivative instruments
	(Dollars in millions)		Interest			Cross			Other			Total			Interest			Cross			Other			Total
			Rate Swaps			Currency						Derivative			Rate Swaps			Currency						Derivative
						Interest						Instruments						Interest						Instruments
						Rate Swaps												Rate Swaps
	Balance, beginning of period		$	(88	)	$	486		$	(15	)	$	383		$	(83	)	$	620		$	5		$	542
	Total gains/(losses) (realized and unrealized):
	Included in earnings(1)			10			499			(5	)		504			19			251			—			270
	Included in other comprehensive income			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Settlements			(10	)		(24	)		2			(32	)		(4	)		(28	)		—			(32	)
	Transfers in and/or out of level 3			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Balance, end of period		$	(88	)	$	961		$	(18	)	$	855		$	(68	)	$	843		$	5		$	780
	Change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date(2)		$	8		$	475		$	(4	)	$	479		$	15		$	224		$	(1	)	$	238
			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013												2012
			Derivative instruments												Derivative instruments
	(Dollars in millions)		Interest			Cross			Other			Total			Interest			Cross			Other			Total
			Rate Swaps			Currency						Derivative			Rate Swaps			Currency						Derivative
						Interest						Instruments						Interest						Instruments
						Rate Swaps												Rate Swaps
	Balance, beginning of period		$	(73	)	$	1,053		$	4		$	984		$	(40	)	$	1,021		$	1		$	982
	Total gains/(losses) (realized and unrealized):
	Included in earnings(1)			6			—			(18	)		(12	)		(3	)		(73	)		4			(72	)
	Included in other comprehensive income			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Settlements			(21	)		(92	)		(4	)		(117	)		(25	)		(105	)		—			(130	)
	Transfers in and/or out of level 3			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Balance, end of period		$	(88	)	$	961		$	(18	)	$	855		$	(68	)	$	843		$	5		$	780
	Change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date(2)		$	(3	)	$	45		$	(16	)	$	26		$	(26	)	$	(178	)	$	5		$	(199	)
	(1)	“Included in earnings” is comprised of the following amounts recorded in the specified line item in the consolidated statements of income:
Included in Earnings
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,
	(Dollars in millions)		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net		$	480		$	245		$	(73	)	$	(172	)
	Interest expense			24			25			61			100
	Total		$	504		$	270		$	(12	)	$	(72	)
	(2)	Recorded in “gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
Unobservable Data Used in Recurring Valuations of Level 3	The following table presents the significant inputs that are unobservable or from inactive markets used in the recurring valuations of the level 3 financial instruments detailed above.
	(Dollars in millions)		Fair Value at			Valuation		Input	Range
			September 30, 2013			Technique			(Weighted Average)
	Derivatives
	Consumer Price Index/LIBOR basis swaps		$	41		Discounted cash		Bid/ask adjustment	0.05% — 0.05%
						flow		to discount rate	-0.05%
	Prime/LIBOR basis swaps			(129	)	Discounted cash		Constant prepayment rate	4.30%
						flow
								Bid/ask adjustment to	0.08% — 0.08%
								discount rate	-0.08%
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			961		Discounted cash		Constant prepayment rate	2.60%
						flow
	Other			(18	)
	Total		$	855
Fair Values of Financial Assets and Liabilities, Including Derivative Financial Instruments	The following table summarizes the fair values of our financial assets and liabilities, including derivative financial instruments.
			September 30, 2013									December 31, 2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Fair			Carrying			Difference			Fair			Carrying			Difference
			Value			Value						Value			Value
	Earning assets
	FFELP Loans		$	105,809		$	106,350		$	(541	)	$	125,042		$	125,612		$	(570	)
	Private Education Loans			37,625			37,752			(127	)		36,081			36,934			(853	)
	Cash and investments(1)			9,612			9,612			—			9,994			9,994			—
	Total earning assets			153,046			153,714			(668	)		171,117			172,540			(1,423	)
	Interest-bearing liabilities
	Short-term borrowings			15,588			15,572			(16	)		19,861			19,856			(5	)
	Long-term borrowings			133,102			136,944			3,842			146,210			152,401			6,191
	Total interest-bearing liabilities			148,690			152,516			3,826			166,071			172,257			6,186
	Derivative financial instruments
	Floor Income Contracts			(1,564	)		(1,564	)		—			(2,154	)		(2,154	)		—
	Interest rate swaps			665			665			—			1,337			1,337			—
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps			982			982			—			1,099			1,099			—
	Other			(18	)		(18	)		—			4			4			—
	Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value								$	3,158								$	4,763
	(1)	“Cash and investments” includes available-for-sale investments that consist of investments that are primarily agency securities whose cost basis is $94 million and $78 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, versus a fair value of $93 million and $81 million at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

Segment_Reporting_Tables

Segment Reporting (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Asset Information for Company's Consumer Lending Business Segment	The following table includes asset information for our Consumer Lending segment.
	(Dollars in millions)		September 30,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Private Education Loans, net		$	37,752		$	36,934
	Cash and investments(1)			2,268			2,731
	Other			3,599			3,275
	Total assets		$	43,619		$	42,940
		(1)	Includes restricted cash and investments.
Asset Information for Company's FFELP Loans Business Segment	The following table includes asset information for our FFELP Loans segment.
	(Dollars in millions)		September 30,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	FFELP Loans, net		$	106,350		$	125,612
	Cash and investments(1)			5,025			5,766
	Other			3,114			4,286
	Total assets		$	114,489		$	135,664
		(1)	Includes restricted cash and investments.
Segment Results and Reconciliations to GAAP	Segment Results and Reconciliations to GAAP
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
	(Dollars in millions)		Consumer			Business			FFELP			Other			Eliminations(1)			Total			Adjustments									Total
			Lending			Services			Loans									“Core												GAAP
																		Earnings”			Reclassifications			Additions/			Total
																								(Subtractions)			Adjustments(2)
	Interest income:
	Student loans		$	635		$	—		$	574		$	—		$	—		$	1,209		$	201		$	(77	)	$	124		$	1,333
	Other loans			—			—			—			3			—			3			—			—			—			3
	Cash and investments			1			1			2			1			(1	)		4			—			—			—			4
	Total interest income			636			1			576			4			(1	)		1,216			201			(77	)		124			1,340
	Total interest expense			203			—			313			13			(1	)		528			12			1	(4)		13			541
	Net interest income (loss)			433			1			263			(9	)		—			688			189			(78	)		111			799
	Less: provisions for loan losses			195			—			12			—			—			207			—			—			—			207
	Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses			238			1			251			(9	)		—			481			189			(78	)		111			592
	Other income (loss):
	Gains on sales of loans and investments			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Servicing revenue			11			174			21			—			(123	)		83			—			—			—			83
	Contingency revenue			—			104			—			—			—			104			—			—			—			104
	Gains on debt repurchases			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Other income (loss)			—			6			—			6			—			12			(189	)		59	(5)		(130	)		(118	)
	Total other income (loss)			11			284			21			6			(123	)		199			(189	)		59			(130	)		69
	Expenses:
	Direct operating expenses			85			103			129			4			(123	)		198			—			—			—			198
	Overhead expenses			—			—			—			59			—			59			—			—			—			59
	Operating expenses			85			103			129			63			(123	)		257			—			—			—			257
	Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			4			4			4
	Restructuring and other reorganization expenses			—			—			—			12			—			12			—			—			—			12
	Total expenses			85			103			129			75			(123	)		269			—			4			4			273
	Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)			164			182			143			(78	)		—			411			—			(23	)		(23	)		388
	Income tax expense (benefit)(3)			59			66			51			(28	)		—			148			—			(12	)		(12	)		136
	Net income (loss) from continuing operations			105			116			92			(50	)		—			263			—			(11	)		(11	)		252
	Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense			—			8			—			—			—			8			—			—			—			8
	Net income (loss)			105			124			92			(50	)		—			271			—			(11	)		(11	)		260
	Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
	Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation		$	105		$	124		$	92		$	(50	)	$	—		$	271		$	—		$	(11	)	$	(11	)	$	260
	(1)	The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
	(2)	“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
	(Dollars in millions)		Net Impact of			Net Impact of			Total
			Derivative			Goodwill and
			Accounting			Acquired  Intangibles
	Net interest income after provisions for loan losses		$	111		$	—		$	111
	Total other loss			(130	)		—			(130	)
	Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			4			4
	“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP		$	(19	)	$	(4	)		(23	)
	Income tax benefit									(12	)
	Net loss								$	(11	)
	(3)	Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.
	(4)	Represents a portion of the $(4) million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
	(5)	Represents the $62 million of “unrealized gains on derivative and hedging activities, net” as well as the remaining portion of the $(4) million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
	(Dollars in millions)		Consumer			Business			FFELP			Other			Eliminations(1)			Total			Adjustments									Total
			Lending			Services			Loans									“Core												GAAP
																		Earnings”			Reclassifications			Additions/			Total
																								(Subtractions)			Adjustments(2)
	Interest income:
	Student loans		$	615		$	—		$	712		$	—		$	—		$	1,327		$	206		$	(78	)	$	128		$	1,455
	Other loans			—			—			—			4			—			4			—			—			—			4
	Cash and investments			2			2			3			—			(2	)		5			—			—			—			5
	Total interest income			617			2			715			4			(2	)		1,336			206			(78	)		128			1,464
	Total interest expense			209			—			399			12			(2	)		618			26			1	(4)		27			645
	Net interest income (loss)			408			2			316			(8	)		—			718			180			(79	)		101			819
	Less: provisions for loan losses			252			—			18			—			—			270			—			—			—			270
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses			156			2			298			(8	)		—			448			180			(79	)		101			549
Other income (loss):
Gains on sales of loans and investments			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Servicing revenue			12			201			22			—			(164	)		71			—			—			—			71
Contingency revenue			—			85			—			—			—			85			—			—			—			85
Gains on debt repurchases			—			—			—			44			—			44			—			—			—			44
Other income (loss)			—			7			—			3			—			10			(180	)		(61	)(5)		(241	)		(231	)
Total other income (loss)			12			293			22			47			(164	)		210			(180	)		(61	)		(241	)		(31	)
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses			68			88			171			3			(164	)		166			—			—			—			166
Overhead expenses			—			—			—			54			—			54			—			—			—			54
Operating expenses			68			88			171			57			(164	)		220			—			—			—			220
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			5			5			5
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses			1			—			—			1			—			2			—			—			—			2
Total expenses			69			88			171			58			(164	)		222			—			5			5			227
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)			99			207			149			(19	)		—			436			—			(145	)		(145	)		291
Income tax expense (benefit)(3)			36			76			55			(7	)		—			160			—			(56	)		(56	)		104
Net income (loss) from continuing operations			63			131			94			(12	)		—			276			—			(89	)		(89	)		187
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)			(1	)		1			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Net income (loss)			62			132			94			(12	)		—			276			—			(89	)		(89	)		187
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			—			(1	)		—			—			—			(1	)		—			—			—			(1	)
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation		$	62		$	133		$	94		$	(12	)	$	—		$	277		$	—		$	(89	)	$	(89	)	$	188
(1)	The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
(2)	“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
		Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Dollars in millions)		Net Impact of			Net Impact of			Total
		Derivative			Goodwill  and
		Accounting			Acquired  Intangibles
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses		$	101		$	—		$	101
Total other loss			(241	)		—			(241	)
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			5			5
“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP		$	(140	)	$	(5	)		(145	)
Income tax benefit									(56	)
Net loss								$	(89	)
(3)	Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.
(4)	Represents a portion of the $(9) million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
(5)	Represents the $(53) million of “unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” as well as the remaining portion of the $(9) million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
(Dollars in millions)		Consumer			Business			FFELP			Other			Eliminations(1)			Total			Adjustments									Total
		Lending			Services			Loans									“Core												GAAP
																	Earnings”			Reclassifications			Additions/			Total
																							(Subtractions)			Adjustments(2)
Interest income:
Student loans		$	1,884		$	—		$	1,755		$	—		$	—		$	3,639		$	612		$	(229	)	$	383		$	4,022
Other loans			—			—			—			9			—			9			—			—			—			9
Cash and investments			5			4			5			3			(4	)		13			—			—			—			13
Total interest income			1,889			4			1,760			12			(4	)		3,661			612			(229	)		383			4,044
Total interest expense			613			—			978			36			(4	)		1,623			44			(1	)(4)		43			1,666
Net interest income (loss)			1,276			4			782			(24	)		—			2,038			568			(228	)		340			2,378
Less: provisions for loan losses			607			—			42			—			—			649			—			—			—			649
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses			669			4			740			(24	)		—			1,389			568			(228	)		340			1,729
Other income (loss):
Gains (losses) on sales of loans and investments			—			—			312			(5	)		—			307			—			—			—			307
Servicing revenue			31			541			60			—			(409	)		223			—			—			—			223
Contingency revenue			—			312			—			—			—			312			—			—			—			312
Gains on debt repurchases			—			—			—			48			—			48			(6	)		—			(6	)		42
Other income (loss)			—			20			—			6			—			26			(562	)		462	(5)		(100	)		(74	)
Total other income (loss)			31			873			372			49			(409	)		916			(568	)		462			(106	)		810
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses			228			299			430			9			(409	)		557			—			—			—			557
Overhead expenses			—			—			—			180			—			180			—			—			—			180
Operating expenses			228			299			430			189			(409	)		737			—			—			—			737
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			10			10			10
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses			2			1			—			43			—			46			—			—			—			46
Total expenses			230			300			430			232			(409	)		783			—			10			10			793
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)			470			577			682			(207	)		—			1,522			—			224			224			1,746
Income tax expense (benefit)(3)			171			211			249			(75	)		—			556			—			89			89			645
Net income (loss) from continuing operations			299			366			433			(132	)		—			966			—			135			135			1,101
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)			(1	)		49			—			—			—			48			—			(1	)		(1	)		47
Net income (loss)			298			415			433			(132	)		—			1,014			—			134			134			1,148
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			—			(1	)		—			—			—			(1	)		—			—			—			(1	)
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation		$	298		$	416		$	433		$	(132	)	$	—		$	1,015		$	—		$	134		$	134		$	1,149
(1)	The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
(2)	“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
(Dollars in millions)		Net Impact of			Net Impact of			Total
		Derivative			Goodwill and
		Accounting			Acquired Intangibles
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses		$	340		$	—		$	340
Total other loss			(106	)		—			(106	)
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			10			10
“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP		$	234		$	(10	)		224
Income tax expense									89
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit									(1	)
Net income								$	134
(3)	Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.
(4)	Represents a portion of the $41 million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
(5)	Represents the $422 million of “unrealized gains on derivative and hedging activities, net” as well as the remaining portion of the $41 million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Dollars in millions)		Consumer			Business			FFELP			Other			Eliminations(1)			Total			Adjustments									Total
		Lending			Services			Loans									“Core												GAAP
																	Earnings”			Reclassifications			Additions/			Total
																							(Subtractions)			Adjustments(2)
Interest income:
Student loans		$	1,856		$	—		$	2,090		$	—		$	—		$	3,946		$	643		$	(274	)	$	369		$	4,315
Other loans			—			—			—			13			—			13			—			—			—			13
Cash and investments			6			5			10			—			(5	)		16			—			—			—			16
Total interest income			1,862			5			2,100			13			(5	)		3,975			643			(274	)		369			4,344
Total interest expense			616			—			1,233			26			(5	)		1,870			95			3	(4)		98			1,968
Net interest income (loss)			1,246			5			867			(13	)		—			2,105			548			(277	)		271			2,376
Less: provisions for loan losses			712			—			54			—			—			766			—			—			—			766
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses			534			5			813			(13	)		—			1,339			548			(277	)		271			1,610
Other income (loss):
Gains on sales of loans and investments			—			—			—			1			—			1			—			—			—			1
Servicing revenue			36			619			68			1			(512	)		212			—			—			—			212
Contingency revenue			—			261			—			—			—			261			—			—			—			261
Gains on debt repurchases			—			—			—			102			—			102			—			—			—			102
Other income (loss)			—			25			—			9			—			34			(548	)		(47	)(5)		(595	)		(561	)
Total other income (loss)			36			905			68			113			(512	)		610			(548	)		(47	)		(595	)		15
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses			199			269			537			10			(512	)		503			—			—			—			503
Overhead expenses			—			—			—			169			—			169			—			—			—			169
Operating expenses			199			269			537			179			(512	)		672			—			—			—			672
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			13			13			13
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses			3			2			—			4			—			9			—			—			—			9
Total expenses			202			271			537			183			(512	)		681			—			13			13			694
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)			368			639			344			(83	)		—			1,268			—			(337	)		(337	)		931
Income tax expense (benefit)(3)			134			234			126			(29	)		—			465			—			(125	)		(125	)		340
Net income (loss) from continuing operations			234			405			218			(54	)		—			803			—			(212	)		(212	)		591
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit			(1	)		—			—			—			—			(1	)		—			(1	)		(1	)		(2	)
Net income (loss)			233			405			218			(54	)		—			802			—			(213	)		(213	)		589
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			—			(2	)		—			—			—			(2	)		—			—			—			(2	)
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation		$	233		$	407		$	218		$	(54	)	$	—		$	804		$	—		$	(213	)	$	(213	)	$	591
(1)	The eliminations in servicing revenue and direct operating expense represent the elimination of intercompany servicing revenue where the Business Services segment performs the loan servicing function for the FFELP Loans segment.
(2)	“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Dollars in millions)		Net Impact of			Net Impact of			Total
		Derivative			Goodwill and
		Accounting			Acquired Intangibles
Net interest income after provisions for loan losses		$	271		$	—		$	271
Total other loss			(595	)		—			(595	)
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization			—			13			13
“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP		$	(324	)	$	(13	)		(337	)
Income tax benefit									(125	)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit									(1	)
Net loss								$	(213	)
(3)	Income taxes are based on a percentage of net income before tax for the individual reportable segment.
(4)	Represents a portion of the $2 million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
(5)	Represents the $(52) million of “unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net” as well as the remaining portion of the $2 million of “other derivative accounting adjustments.”
Core Earnings Adjustments to GAAP	The following table reflects aggregate adjustments associated with these areas.
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,
	(Dollars in millions)		2013			2012			2013			2012
	“Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP:
	Net impact of derivative accounting(1)		$	(19	)	$	(140	)	$	234		$	(324	)
	Net impact of goodwill and acquired intangibles assets(2)			(4	)		(5	)		(10	)		(13	)
	Net tax effect(3)			12			56			(89	)		125
	Net effect from discontinued operations			—			—			(1	)		(1	)
	Total “Core Earnings” adjustments to GAAP		$	(11	)	$	(89	)	$	134		$	(213	)
	-1	Derivative accounting: “Core Earnings” exclude periodic unrealized gains and losses that are caused by the mark-to-market valuations on derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under GAAP as well as the periodic unrealized gains and losses that are a result of ineffectiveness recognized related to effective hedges under GAAP. These unrealized gains and losses occur in our Consumer Lending, FFELP Loans and Other business segments. Under GAAP, for our derivatives that are held to maturity, the cumulative net unrealized gain or loss over the life of the contract will equal $0 except for Floor Income Contracts where the cumulative unrealized gain will equal the amount for which we sold the contract. In our “Core Earnings” presentation, we recognize the economic effect of these hedges, which generally results in any net settlement cash paid or received being recognized ratably as an interest expense or revenue over the hedged item’s life.
	-2	Goodwill and acquired intangible assets: Our “Core Earnings” exclude goodwill and intangible asset impairment and amortization of acquired intangible assets.
	-3	Net tax effect: Such tax effect is based upon our “Core Earnings” effective tax rate for the year.

Discontinued_Operations_Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Summary of Discontinued Operations	The following table summarizes the discontinued operations.
		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		September 30,					September 30,
	(Dollars in millions)	2013			2012		2013			2012
	Operations:
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	$	1		$	—	$	36		$	(3	)
	Income tax benefit		(7	)		—		(11	)		(1	)
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$	8		$	—	$	47		$	(2	)

Significant_Accounting_Policie2

Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified			Trust Sales Combined [Member]
Significant Of Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Assets	$161,570	$181,260	$12,500
Liabilities	155,938	176,194	12,100
Gain from trust sale			$312

Allowance_for_Loan_Losses_Addi

Allowance for Loan Losses - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
	CreditScore	CreditScore
Schedule Of Allowance For Credit Losses And Recorded Investment In Financing Receivables [Line Items]
Maximum original FICO score at for-profit schools to become eligible for Non-traditional loans	670	670
Maximum original FICO score at not-for-profit schools to become eligible for Non-traditional loans	640	640
Delinquency period (in days)	212 days
Increase in allowance due to potential recovery shortfalls	$112
Allowance for estimated recovery shortfalls	329	329		187
Percentage of loans granted forbearance that migrated to TDR classification		43.00%	43.00%
TDR loans, unpaid principal balance	8,731	8,731	7,377
Payment default period for TDRs		60 days past due
Criteria for loans to be considered as nonperforming		Greater than 90 days past due
Private Education Loans [Member]
Schedule Of Allowance For Credit Losses And Recorded Investment In Financing Receivables [Line Items]
Number of classes of loans		2
Interest Rate Reduction [Member]
Schedule Of Allowance For Credit Losses And Recorded Investment In Financing Receivables [Line Items]
TDR loans, unpaid principal balance	$1,500	$1,500	$1,000

Allowance_for_Loan_Losses_Allo

Allowance for Loan Losses - Allowance for Credit Losses and Recorded Investments in Loans (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Allowance for Loan Losses
Beginning balance	$2,317	$2,418	$2,377	$2,427
Total provision	207	270	649	766
Charge-offs	-223	-279	-721	-793
Student loan sales		-2	-14	-7
Reclassification of interest reserve	5	8	15	22
Ending balance	2,306	2,415	2,306	2,415
Allowance:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment	1,115	1,096	1,115	1,096
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	1,191	1,319	1,191	1,319
Loans:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment	9,031	7,175	9,031	7,175
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	137,153	159,599	137,153	159,599
FFELP Loans [Member]
Allowance for Loan Losses
Beginning balance	133	173	159	187
Total provision	12	18	42	54
Charge-offs	-15	-23	-57	-68
Student loan sales		-2	-14	-7
Ending balance	130	166	130	166
Allowance:
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	130	166	130	166
Loans:
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	105,422	126,441	105,422	126,441
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)	0.08%	0.10%	0.09%	0.10%
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)	0.06%	0.08%	0.08%	0.08%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance	0.12%	0.13%	0.12%	0.13%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment	0.17%	0.18%	0.17%	0.18%
Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)	2.2	1.8	1.7	1.8
Ending total loans	105,422	126,441	105,422	126,441
Average loans in repayment	78,012	90,898	82,196	92,157
Ending loans in repayment	77,618	90,481	77,618	90,481
Private Education Loans [Member]
Allowance for Loan Losses
Beginning balance	2,149	2,186	2,171	2,171
Total provision	195	252	607	712
Charge-offs	-205	-250	-649	-709
Reclassification of interest reserve	5	8	15	22
Ending balance	2,144	2,196	2,144	2,196
Allowance:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment	1,091	1,056	1,091	1,056
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	1,053	1,140	1,053	1,140
Loans:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment	8,982	7,099	8,982	7,099
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	31,640	33,012	31,640	33,012
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)	2.57%	3.23%	2.74%	3.10%
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)	2.48%	3.11%	2.65%	2.97%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance	5.28%	5.48%	5.28%	5.48%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment	6.77%	7.09%	6.77%	7.09%
Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)	2.6	2.2	2.5	2.3
Ending total loans	40,622	40,111	40,622	40,111
Average loans in repayment	31,630	30,816	31,631	30,577
Ending loans in repayment	31,651	30,972	31,651	30,972
Other Loans [Member]
Allowance for Loan Losses
Beginning balance	35	59	47	69
Charge-offs	-3	-6	-15	-16
Ending balance	32	53	32	53
Allowance:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment	24	40	24	40
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	8	13	8	13
Loans:
Ending balance: individually evaluated for impairment	49	76	49	76
Ending balance: collectively evaluated for impairment	91	146	91	146
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment (annualized)	7.70%	9.58%	12.14%	8.79%
Charge-offs as a percentage of average loans in repayment and forbearance (annualized)	7.70%	9.58%	12.14%	8.79%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending total loan balance	22.90%	23.92%	22.90%	23.92%
Allowance as a percentage of the ending loans in repayment	22.90%	23.92%	22.90%	23.92%
Allowance coverage of charge-offs (annualized)	2.8	2.4	1.6	2.5
Ending total loans	140	222	140	222
Average loans in repayment	148	231	163	242
Ending loans in repayment	$140	$222	$140	$222

Allowance_for_Loan_Losses_Priv

Allowance for Loan Losses - Private Education Loan Portfolio Stratified by Key Credit Quality Indicators (Detail) (Private Education Loans [Member], USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
School Type/FICO Scores [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
School type FICO scores traditional recorded investment	$36,353	$35,347
School type FICO scores traditional recorded investment, in percent	93.00%	92.00%
School type FICO scores non- traditional recorded investment	2,947	3,207
School type FICO scores non- traditional recorded investment, in percent	7.00%	8.00%
Total	39,300	38,554
Total in percent	100.00%	100.00%
Cosigners [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Private Education Loans with cosigner	26,277	24,907
Private Education Loans with cosigner in percent	67.00%	65.00%
Private Education Loans without cosigner	13,023	13,647
Private Education Loans without cosigner in percent	33.00%	35.00%
Total	39,300	38,554
Total in percent	100.00%	100.00%
Seasoning [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Seasoning - based on monthly scheduled payments due from 1-12 payments	5,855	7,371
Seasoning - based on monthly scheduled payments due from 13-24 payments	5,765	6,137
Seasoning - based on monthly scheduled payments due from 25-36 payments	6,227	6,037
Seasoning - based on monthly scheduled payments due from 37-48 payments	4,871	4,780
Seasoning - based on monthly scheduled payments due from more than 48 payments	10,041	8,325
Seasoning - based on monthly scheduled payments due from not yet in repayment	6,541	5,904
Total	$39,300	$38,554
Seasoning based on monthly scheduled payments due from 1-12 payments, in percent	15.00%	19.00%
Seasoning based on monthly scheduled payments due from 13 - 24 payments, in percent	15.00%	16.00%
Seasoning based on monthly scheduled payments due from 25 - 36 payments, in percent	16.00%	16.00%
Seasoning based on monthly scheduled payments due from 37 - 48 payments, in percent	12.00%	12.00%
Seasoning based on monthly scheduled payments due from more than 48 payments, in percent	25.00%	22.00%
Seasoning - based on monthly scheduled payments due from not yet in repayment, in percent	17.00%	15.00%
Total in percent	100.00%	100.00%

Allowance_for_Loan_Losses_Age_

Allowance for Loan Losses - Age Analysis of Past Due Loans Delinquencies (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
Loans receivable for partially charged-off loans	$1,322	$1,334	$1,347	$1,303	$1,277	$1,241
Loans allowance for losses	-2,306	-2,317	-2,377	-2,415	-2,418	-2,427
FFELP Loans [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans in-school/grace/deferment	14,613		17,702
Loans in forbearance	13,191		15,902
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
Loans current	64,144		75,499
Loans delinquent 31-60 days	3,798		4,710
Loans delinquent 61-90 days	2,734		2,788
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days	6,942		7,734
Total loans in repayment	77,618		90,731
Total loans, gross	105,422		124,335
Loans unamortized premium (discount)	1,058		1,436
Total loans	106,480		125,771
Loans allowance for losses	-130		-159
Loans, net	106,350		125,612
Loans current, in percentage	82.60%		83.20%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days, in percentage	4.90%		5.20%
Loans delinquent 61-90 days, in percentage	3.50%		3.10%
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days, in percentage	9.00%		8.50%
Loans in repayment, in percentage	100.00%		100.00%
Percentage of loans in repayment	73.60%		73.00%
Delinquencies as a percentage of loans in repayment	17.40%		16.80%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance	14.50%		14.90%
Private Education Traditional Loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans in-school/grace/deferment	6,112		5,421
Loans in forbearance	971		996
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
Loans current	27,015		26,597
Loans delinquent 31-60 days	812		837
Loans delinquent 61-90 days	519		375
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days	924		1,121
Total loans in repayment	29,270		28,930
Total loans, gross	36,353		35,347
Loans unamortized premium (discount)	-650		-713
Total loans	35,703		34,634
Loans receivable for partially charged-off loans	798		797
Loans allowance for losses	-1,611		-1,637
Loans, net	34,890		33,794
Loans current, in percentage	92.30%		91.90%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days, in percentage	2.80%		2.90%
Loans delinquent 61-90 days, in percentage	1.70%		1.30%
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days, in percentage	3.20%		3.90%
Loans in repayment, in percentage	100.00%		100.00%
Percentage of loans in repayment	80.50%		81.90%
Delinquencies as a percentage of loans in repayment	7.70%		8.10%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance	3.20%		3.30%
Private Education Non-Traditional Loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans in-school/grace/deferment	429		483
Loans in forbearance	137		140
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
Loans current	1,841		1,978
Loans delinquent 31-60 days	154		175
Loans delinquent 61-90 days	122		106
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days	264		325
Total loans in repayment	2,381		2,584
Total loans, gross	2,947		3,207
Loans unamortized premium (discount)	-76		-83
Total loans	2,871		3,124
Loans receivable for partially charged-off loans	524		550
Loans allowance for losses	-533		-534
Loans, net	2,862		3,140
Loans current, in percentage	77.30%		76.50%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days, in percentage	6.50%		6.80%
Loans delinquent 61-90 days, in percentage	5.10%		4.10%
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days, in percentage	11.10%		12.60%
Loans in repayment, in percentage	100.00%		100.00%
Percentage of loans in repayment	80.80%		80.60%
Delinquencies as a percentage of loans in repayment	22.70%		23.40%
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance	5.40%		5.10%
Troubled Debt Restructuring Loans [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans in-school/grace/deferment	789		574
Loans in forbearance	768		544
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status:
Loans current	5,384		4,619
Loans delinquent 31-60 days	555		478
Loans delinquent 61-90 days	408		254
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days	827		908
Total loans in repayment	7,174		6,259
Total loans, gross	$8,731		$7,377
Loans current, in percentage	75.10%		73.80%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days, in percentage	7.70%		7.60%
Loans delinquent 61-90 days, in percentage	5.70%		4.10%
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days, in percentage	11.50%		14.50%
Loans in repayment, in percentage	100.00%		100.00%

Allowance_for_Loan_Losses_Rece

Allowance for Loan Losses - Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Loans (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Receivables [Abstract]
Receivable at beginning of period	$1,334	$1,277	$1,347	$1,241
Expected future recoveries of current period defaults	68	86	216	237
Recoveries	-55	-45	-177	-139
Charge-offs	-25	-15	-64	-36
Receivable at end of period	1,322	1,303	1,322	1,303
Allowance for estimated recovery shortfalls	-329	-187	-329	-187
Net receivable at end of period	$993	$1,116	$993	$1,116

Allowance_for_Loan_Losses_Rece1

Allowance for Loan Losses - Receivable for Partially Charged-Off Loans (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Receivables [Abstract]
Allowance for private education loans losses	$2,144	$2,171	$2,171

Allowance_for_Loan_Losses_Allo1

Allowance for Loan Losses - Allowance Related for TDR (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
TDR Loans, Recorded Investment	$8,674	$7,294
TDR loans, unpaid principal balance	8,731	7,377
TDR Loans, Related Allowance	1,091	1,126
Private Education Loans - Traditional [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
TDR Loans, Recorded Investment	7,251	5,999
TDR loans, unpaid principal balance	7,307	6,074
TDR Loans, Related Allowance	830	844
Private Education Loans - Non-Traditional [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
TDR Loans, Recorded Investment	1,423	1,295
TDR loans, unpaid principal balance	1,424	1,303
TDR Loans, Related Allowance	$261	$282

Allowance_for_Loan_Losses_Aver

Allowance for Loan Losses - Average Recorded Investment and Interest Income Recognized for TDR (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Impaired financing receivable, Average Recorded Investment	$8,723	$6,755	$8,188	$6,207
Impaired financing receivable, Interest Income Recognized	137	114	387	319
Private Education Loans - Traditional [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Impaired financing receivable, Average Recorded Investment	7,246	5,481	6,768	5,010
Impaired financing receivable, Interest Income Recognized	108	87	304	241
Private Education Loans - Non-Traditional [Member]
Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]
Impaired financing receivable, Average Recorded Investment	1,477	1,274	1,420	1,197
Impaired financing receivable, Interest Income Recognized	$29	$27	$83	$78

Allowance_for_Loan_Losses_Modi

Allowance for Loan Losses - Modified Loans Accounts for TDR (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Modified Loans	$745	$674	$1,945	$2,129
Charge-Offs	120	133	366	343
Payment Default	216	429	697	1,461
Private Education Loans - Traditional [Member]
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Modified Loans	651	573	1,686	1,783
Charge-Offs	88	96	269	244
Payment Default	168	332	547	1,111
Private Education Loans - Non-Traditional [Member]
Financing Receivable, Modifications [Line Items]
Modified Loans	94	101	259	346
Charge-Offs	32	37	97	99
Payment Default	$48	$97	$150	$350

Allowance_for_Loan_Losses_Accr

Allowance for Loan Losses - Accrued Interest Receivable (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total Accrued Interest Receivable	$1,037	$904
Greater Than 90 Days Past Due	46	55
Allowance for Uncollectible Interest	67	67
Private Education Loan - Traditional [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total Accrued Interest Receivable	940	798
Greater Than 90 Days Past Due	33	39
Allowance for Uncollectible Interest	46	45
Private Education Loan Non-Traditional [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total Accrued Interest Receivable	97	106
Greater Than 90 Days Past Due	13	16
Allowance for Uncollectible Interest	$21	$22

Borrowings_Companys_Borrowings

Borrowings - Company's Borrowings (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Long Term And Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	$15,572	$19,856
Long-term borrowings	136,944	152,401
Total	152,516	172,257
Senior Unsecured Debt [Member]
Long Term And Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	3,201	2,319
Long-term borrowings	15,509	15,446
Total	18,710	17,765
Bank Deposits [Member]
Long Term And Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	5,732	4,226
Long-term borrowings	1,896	3,088
Total	7,628	7,314
Other [Member]
Long Term And Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	806	1,609
Total	806	1,609
Total Unsecured Borrowings [Member]
Long Term And Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	9,739	8,154
Long-term borrowings	17,405	18,534
Total	27,144	26,688
FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]
Long Term And Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	91,690	105,525
Total	91,690	105,525
Private Education Loan Securitizations [Member]
Long Term And Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	19,434	19,656
Total	19,434	19,656
FFELP Loans - Other Facilities [Member]
Long Term And Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	5,794	11,651
Long-term borrowings	5,394	4,827
Total	11,188	16,478
Private Education Loans - Other Facilities [Member]
Long Term And Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	878	1,070
Total	878	1,070
Total Secured Borrowings [Member]
Long Term And Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	5,794	11,651
Long-term borrowings	117,396	131,078
Total	123,190	142,729
Total Before Hedge Accounting Adjustments [Member]
Long Term And Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	15,533	19,805
Long-term borrowings	134,801	149,612
Total	150,334	169,417
Hedge Accounting Adjustments [Member]
Long Term And Short Term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	39	51
Long-term borrowings	2,143	2,789
Total	$2,182	$2,840

Borrowings_Financing_VIEs_Deta

Borrowings - Financing VIEs (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	$15,572	$19,856
Long-term borrowings	136,944	152,401
Total	152,516	172,257
Cash	4,287	5,011
Other assets	7,420	8,273
Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member]
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	4,678	9,551
Long-term borrowings	116,968	131,518
Total	121,646	141,069
Loans	127,645	147,131
Cash	4,044	4,826
Other assets	2,380	2,312
Total Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding	134,069	154,269
Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member] | FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	91,690	105,525
Total	91,690	105,525
Loans	92,865	107,009
Cash	3,538	3,652
Other assets	715	608
Total Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding	97,118	111,269
Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Private Education Loan Securitizations [Member]
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	19,434	19,656
Total	19,434	19,656
Loans	24,413	24,618
Cash	337	385
Other assets	575	545
Total Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding	25,325	25,548
Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member] | FFELP Loans - Other Facilities [Member]
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	4,678	9,551
Long-term borrowings	3,777	4,154
Total	8,455	13,705
Loans	8,762	14,050
Cash	151	487
Other assets	108	197
Total Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding	9,021	14,734
Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Private Education Loans - Other Facilities [Member]
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	878	1,070
Total	878	1,070
Loans	1,605	1,454
Cash	18	302
Other assets	31	33
Total Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding	1,654	1,789
Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Total Before Hedge Accounting Adjustments [Member]
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	4,678	9,551
Long-term borrowings	115,779	130,405
Total	120,457	139,956
Loans	127,645	147,131
Cash	4,044	4,826
Other assets	1,429	1,383
Total Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding	133,118	153,340
Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member] | Hedge Accounting Adjustments [Member]
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Long-term borrowings	1,189	1,113
Total	1,189	1,113
Other assets	951	929
Total Carrying Amount of Assets Securing Debt Outstanding	$951	$929

Borrowings_Summary_of_Securiti

Borrowings - Summary of Securitization Transactions (Detail) (USD $)

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Aug. 31, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Apr. 30, 2013

Feb. 28, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Nov. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

31-May-12

Mar. 31, 2012

Jan. 31, 2012

Jul. 31, 2012

Jul. 31, 2012

Jul. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

31-May-13

Mar. 31, 2013

Jan. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2012

Jul. 31, 2012

31-May-12

Apr. 30, 2012

Feb. 29, 2012

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

FFELP ABS Transactions [Member]

FFELP ABS Transactions [Member]

Private Education ABS Transactions [Member]

Private Education ABS Transactions [Member]

FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]

FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]

FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]

FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]

FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]

FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]

FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]

FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]

FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]

FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]

FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]

FFELP Loan Securitizations [Member]

Issuance 2011-3 [Member]

Issuance 2012-4 [Member]

Issuance 2012-5 [Member]

Private Education Loan Securitizations [Member]

Private Education Loan Securitizations [Member]

Private Education Loan Securitizations [Member]

Private Education Loan Securitizations [Member]

Private Education Loan Securitizations [Member]

Private Education Loan Securitizations [Member]

Private Education Loan Securitizations [Member]

Private Education Loan Securitizations [Member]

Private Education Loan Securitizations [Member]

Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]

ABS transaction, total

$5,484

$9,680

$3,121

$4,189

$996

$747

$1,246

$1,246

$1,249

$1,527

$1,251

$1,249

$1,491

$1,252

$824

$765

$24

$45

$1,252

$624

$1,135

$1,108

$254

$976

$640

$1,135

$891

$547

Weighted average interest rate of ABS transaction

1 month LIBOR plus 0.64%

1 month LIBOR plus 0.55%

1 month LIBOR plus 0.54%

1 month LIBOR plus 0.45%

1 month LIBOR plus 0.46%

1 month LIBOR plus 0.90%

1 month LIBOR plus 0.55%

1 month LIBOR plus 0.62%

1 month LIBOR plus 1.10%

1 month LIBOR plus 0.65%

1 month LIBOR plus 0.70%

1 month LIBOR plus 0.91%

N/A (Retained B Notes sold)

N/A (Retained B Notes sold)

1 month LIBOR plus 0.67%

1 month LIBOR plus 1.21%

1 month LIBOR plus 0.89%

1 month LIBOR plus 0.81%

1 month LIBOR plus 1.75%

1 month LIBOR plus 1.22%

1 month LIBOR plus 1.69%

1 month LIBOR plus 1.77%

1 month LIBOR plus 2.12%

1 month LIBOR plus 2.17%

Basis points on variable rate debt

0.64%

0.55%

0.54%

0.45%

0.46%

0.90%

0.55%

0.62%

1.10%

0.65%

0.70%

0.91%

0.67%

1.21%

0.89%

0.81%

1.75%

1.22%

1.69%

1.77%

2.12%

2.17%

Weighted Average Life

4 years 7 months 6 days

4 years 4 months 24 days

4 years 6 months

4 years 4 months 24 days

4 years 3 months 18 days

7 years 9 months 18 days

4 years 6 months

4 years 7 months 6 days

8 years 2 months 12 days

4 years 7 months 6 days

4 years 8 months 12 days

4 years 7 months 6 days

4 years 6 months

3 years 1 month 6 days

2 years 8 months 12 days

2 years 7 months 6 days

6 years 3 months 18 days

2 years 7 months 6 days

2 years 6 months

2 years 7 months 6 days

2 years 10 months 24 days

3 years

Total loan amount securitized

$5,496

$9,565

$3,387

$5,557

Borrowings_Summary_of_Securiti1

Borrowings - Summary of Securitization Transactions (Parenthetical) (Detail) (FFELP Loan Securitizations Subordinated Trust [Member], USD $)	Jun. 30, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
FFELP Loan Securitizations Subordinated Trust [Member]
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
ABS transaction, total	$45

Borrowings_Additional_Informat

Borrowings - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 20, 2013	Jan. 28, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 10, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 17, 2013	Jun. 13, 2013	Apr. 11, 2013	Feb. 13, 2013
					FFELP ABCP Facility [Member]	FFELP ABCP Facility [Member]	Private Education Loan Facility [Member]	Private Education Loan Facility [Member]	Securitization Trust [Member]	Securitization Trust [Member]	Securitization Trust [Member]
									ResidualInterest
Debt [Line Items]
Assets	$161,570,000,000			$181,260,000,000					$6,600,000,000	$2,030,000,000	$3,820,000,000
Liabilities	155,938,000,000			176,194,000,000					6,420,000,000	1,990,000,000	3,680,000,000
Number of residual interest sold									3
Issuance of unsecured debt		1,250,000,000	1,500,000,000
Credit facility amount						6,800,000,000		1,100,000,000
Maturity date of the facility					30-Jun-14		15-Aug-15
Libor period					30 days
Cost of borrowing for facility over applicable funding rate					0.50%
Line of credit facility extension period over maturity date					90 days
Minimum increase in interest rate if failure to pay off facility on maturity date					LIBOR plus 0.75 percent
Maximum increase in interest rate if failure to pay off facility on maturity date					LIBOR plus 1.50 percent
Default rate if failure to pay off facility after extension					LIBOR plus 3.00 percent
Outstanding Borrowings Under Facility					4,700,000,000		878,000,000
Book basis of the assets securing ABCP Facility					4,900,000,000		1,700,000,000
Percentage of cost of borrowing over commercial paper issuance cost							0.75%
Outstanding borrowings under facility year one trigger								825,000,000
Outstanding borrowings under facility year two trigger								$550,000,000
Increase over issuance cost if facility not reduced on trigger dates							1.50%
Default rate if failure to pay off facility by maturity date							3.00%
Cost of borrowing if facility not repaid							LIBOR plus 3.00 percent

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen2

Derivative Financial Instruments - Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	$2,133	$2,785
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-2,068	-2,499
Net total derivatives	65	286
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	966	1,546
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-301	-209
Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	1,164	1,235
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-182	-136
Other [Member]
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	3	4
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-21
Floor Income Contracts [Member]
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-1,564	-2,154
Cash Flow [Member]
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	16
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-1	-11
Net total derivatives	15	-11
Cash Flow [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	16
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-1	-11
Fair Value [Member]
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	2,044	2,561
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-273	-137
Net total derivatives	1,771	2,424
Fair Value [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	881	1,396
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-98	-1
Fair Value [Member] | Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	1,163	1,165
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-175	-136
Trading [Member]
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	73	224
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-1,794	-2,351
Net total derivatives	-1,721	-2,127
Trading [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	69	150
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-202	-197
Trading [Member] | Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	1	70
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-7
Trading [Member] | Other [Member]
Derivative Assets:
Derivative assets	3	4
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	-21
Trading [Member] | Floor Income Contracts [Member]
Derivative Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	($1,564)	($2,154)

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen3

Derivative Financial Instruments - Gross Positions without Netting Agreements (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross position	$2,133	$2,785
Gross position	-2,068	-2,499
Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross position	-2,068	-2,499
Impact of master netting agreements, Liabilities	404	544
Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet), Liabilities	-1,664	-1,955
Cash collateral (held) pledged, Liabilities	872	973
Net position, Liabilities	-792	-982
Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross position	2,133	2,785
Impact of master netting agreements, Assets	-404	-544
Derivative values with impact of master netting agreements (as carried on balance sheet), Assets	1,729	2,241
Cash collateral (held) pledged, Assets	-804	-1,423
Net position, Assets	$925	$818

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen4

Derivative Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Amount that overall net asset position decreased due to fair value adjustment	$111	$111
Fair values reflect adjustments for illiquid derivatives decreased the overall net asset position	89	107
Derivative liability position including accrued interest, net of premium receivable with counterparty	883
Liability position with derivative counterparties	203
Collateral posted to counterparties	196
Contingent additional assets due to counterparties	$7

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen5

Derivative Financial Instruments - Derivative Notional Values (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Billions, unless otherwise specified
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	$112.30	$140.40
Cash Flow [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	0.5	0.7
Fair Value [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	28.4	29.5
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	65.2	73.4
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Cash Flow [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	0.5	0.7
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Fair Value [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	16.7	15.8
Floor Income Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	31.8	51.6
Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	12	14
Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Fair Value [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	11.7	13.7
Other [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	3.3	1.4
Trading [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	83.4	110.2
Trading [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	48	56.9
Trading [Member] | Floor Income Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	31.8	51.6
Trading [Member] | Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	0.3	0.3
Trading [Member] | Other [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Total Derivative Notional Values	$3.30	$1.40

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen6

Derivative Financial Instruments - Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	$552	$219	($229)	($80)
Realized Gain (Loss) on derivatives	-50	-38	-137	-91
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item	-498	-272	613	28
Derivative Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Net, Total	4	-91	247	-143
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives, Total	552	219	-229	-80
Realized Gain (Loss) on derivatives, Total	-181	-180	-524	-548
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item, Total	-498	-272	613	28
Total Gain (Loss)	-127	-233	-140	-600
Less: realized gains (losses) recorded in interest expense	131	142	387	457
Fair Value [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	446	223	-653	-194
Realized Gain (Loss) on derivatives	132	148	393	478
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item	-498	-272	613	28
Derivative Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Net, Total	80	99	353	312
Fair Value [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	-36	20	-613	66
Realized Gain (Loss) on derivatives	103	111	317	339
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item	33	-33	671	-98
Derivative Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Net, Total	100	98	375	307
Fair Value [Member] | Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	482	203	-40	-260
Realized Gain (Loss) on derivatives	29	37	76	139
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item	-531	-239	-58	126
Derivative Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Net, Total	-20	1	-22	5
Cash Flow [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives				-1
Realized Gain (Loss) on derivatives	-1	-6	-6	-21
Derivative Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Net, Total	-1	-6	-6	-22
Cash Flow [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives				-1
Realized Gain (Loss) on derivatives	-1	-6	-6	-21
Derivative Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Net, Total	-1	-6	-6	-22
Trading [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	106	-4	424	115
Realized Gain (Loss) on derivatives	-181	-180	-524	-548
Derivative Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Net, Total	-75	-184	-100	-433
Trading [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	-8	-6	-85	-55
Realized Gain (Loss) on derivatives	21	24	58	91
Derivative Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Net, Total	13	18	-27	36
Trading [Member] | Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	3	14	-76	-9
Realized Gain (Loss) on derivatives		2	31	5
Derivative Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Net, Total	3	16	-45	-4
Trading [Member] | Floor Income Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	115	-12	601	174
Realized Gain (Loss) on derivatives	-201	-206	-612	-643
Derivative Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Net, Total	-86	-218	-11	-469
Trading [Member] | Other [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives	-4		-16	5
Realized Gain (Loss) on derivatives	-1		-1	-1
Derivative Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Net, Total	($5)		($17)	$4

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen7

Derivative Financial Instruments - Collateral Held and Pledged (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Collateral held:
Cash (obligation to return cash collateral is recorded in short-term borrowings)	$804	$1,423
Securities at fair value - on-balance sheet securitization derivatives (not recorded in financial statements)	555	613
Total collateral held	1,359	2,036
Derivative asset at fair value including accrued interest	1,946	2,570
Collateral pledged to others:
Cash (right to receive return of cash collateral is recorded in investments)	872	973
Total collateral pledged	872	973
Derivative liability at fair value including accrued interest and premium receivable	$1,072	$1,204

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen8

Derivative Financial Instruments - Collateral Held and Pledged (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Collateral held in restricted cash	$0	$9

Other_Assets_Schedule_of_Other

Other Assets - Schedule of Other Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Other Assets [Line Items]
Total	$7,420	$8,273
Total as a percentage of total other assets	100.00%	100.00%
Other Assets [Member]
Other Assets [Line Items]
Accrued interest receivable, net	2,167	2,147
Derivatives at fair value	1,729	2,241
Income tax asset, net current and deferred	1,344	1,478
Accounts receivable	873	1,111
Benefit and insurance-related investments	477	474
Fixed assets, net	240	215
Other loans, net	108	137
Other	$482	$470
Accrued interest receivable, net as a percentage of total other assets	29.00%	26.00%
Derivatives at fair value as a percentage of total other assets	23.00%	27.00%
Income tax asset, net current and deferred as a percentage of total other assets	18.00%	18.00%
Accounts receivable as a percentage of total other assets	12.00%	13.00%
Benefit and insurance-related investments as a percentage of total other assets	6.00%	6.00%
Fixed assets, net as a percentage of total other assets	3.00%	3.00%
Other loans, net as a percentage of total other assets	1.00%	2.00%
Other, as a percentage of total other assets	8.00%	5.00%

Other_Assets_Additional_Inform

Other Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Billions, unless otherwise specified
Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Cross-currency interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges	$1.80	$2.40
Cumulative mark-to-market adjustment to the hedged debt	($2.20)	($2.80)

Stockholders_Equity_Common_Sha

Stockholders' Equity - Common Share Repurchases and Issuances (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Common shares repurchased	0		19,000,000			58,000,000
Average purchase price per share		$15.81		$20.72	$15.16
Shares repurchased related to employee stock-based compensation plans	251,570	1,253,922		5,616,933	3,660,554
Average purchase price per share	$24.73	$16.13		$21.23	$15.56
Common shares issued	326,789	1,654,506		8,600,008	5,252,158
Common Stock [Member]
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Common shares repurchased		7,643,999		19,316,948	48,184,145
Common shares issued	326,789	1,654,506		8,600,008	5,252,158

Stockholders_Equity_Common_Sha1

Stockholders' Equity - Common Share Repurchases and Issuances (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]
Authority remaining at end of period for repurchases	$400

Stockholders_Equity_Additional

Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Equity [Abstract]
Closing price of the company's common stock		$24.90			$24.90
Dividends per common share attributable to SLM Corporation		$0.15	$0.13		$0.45	$0.38
Common shares repurchased		0		19,000,000			58,000,000
Purchase price of common stock repurchased on open market			$121	$400	$400	$730	$900
Common stock authorized to be repurchased in open market transactions	$400						$900

Earnings_Per_Common_Share_Earn

Earnings Per Common Share - Earnings Per Common Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Numerator:
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation	$260	$188	$1,149	$591
Preferred stock dividends	5	5	15	15
Net income attributable to SLM Corporation common stock	$255	$183	$1,134	$576
Denominator:
Weighted average shares used to compute basic EPS	436	464	442	483
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive effect of stock options, non-vested deferred compensation and restricted stock, restricted stock units and Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP")	9	7	8	7
Dilutive potential common shares	9	7	8	7
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted EPS	445	471	450	490
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to SLM Corporation:
Continuing operations	$0.56	$0.39	$2.46	$1.19
Discontinued operations	$0.02		$0.10
Total	$0.58	$0.39	$2.56	$1.19
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to SLM Corporation:
Continuing operations	$0.55	$0.39	$2.42	$1.18
Discontinued operations	$0.02		$0.10
Total	$0.57	$0.39	$2.52	$1.18

Earnings_Per_Common_Share_Earn1

Earnings Per Common Share - Earnings Per Common Share (Parenthetical) (Detail) (Securities [Member])	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Securities [Member]
Schedule Of Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted By Common Class [Line Items]
Stock awards not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share	3	10	4	13

Fair_Value_Measurements_Valuat

Fair Value Measurements - Valuation of Financial Instruments that are Marked-to-Market on Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments	$85	$72
Derivative assets	2,133	2,785
Derivative liabilities	-2,068	-2,499
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments	93	81
Derivative assets	2,133	2,785
Total	2,226	2,866
Derivative liabilities	-2,068	-2,499
Total	-2,068	-2,499
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Agency Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments	77	63
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Guaranteed Investment Contracts [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments	8	9
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Other [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments	8	9
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative assets	966	1,546
Derivative liabilities	-301	-209
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative assets	1,164	1,235
Derivative liabilities	-182	-136
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Other [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative assets	3	4
Derivative liabilities	-21
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Floor Income Contracts [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative liabilities	-1,564	-2,154
Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments
Derivative assets
Total
Derivative liabilities
Total
Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Agency Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments
Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Guaranteed Investment Contracts [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments
Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Other [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments
Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative assets
Derivative liabilities
Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative assets
Derivative liabilities
Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Other [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative assets
Derivative liabilities
Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Floor Income Contracts [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative liabilities
Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments	93	81
Derivative assets	949	1,492
Total	1,042	1,573
Derivative liabilities	-1,739	-2,190
Total	-1,739	-2,190
Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Agency Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments	77	63
Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Guaranteed Investment Contracts [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments	8	9
Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Other [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Available-for-sale investments	8	9
Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative assets	917	1,444
Derivative liabilities	-164	-34
Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative assets	32	48
Derivative liabilities	-11	-2
Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Floor Income Contracts [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative liabilities	-1,564	-2,154
Level 3 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative assets	1,184	1,293
Total	1,184	1,293
Derivative liabilities	-329	-309
Total	-329	-309
Level 3 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative assets	49	102
Derivative liabilities	-137	-175
Level 3 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative assets	1,132	1,187
Derivative liabilities	-171	-134
Level 3 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Other [Member]
Available-for-sale investments:
Derivative assets	3	4
Derivative liabilities	($21)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Change

Fair Value Measurements - Change in Balance Sheet Carrying Value Associated with Level 3 Financial Instruments Carried at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	($88)	($83)	($73)	($40)
Total gains/(losses) (realized and unrealized):
Included in earnings	10	19	6	-3
Included in other comprehensive income
Settlements	-10	-4	-21	-25
Transfers in and/or out of level 3
Balance, end of period	-88	-68	-88	-68
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date	8	15	-3	-26
Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	486	620	1,053	1,021
Total gains/(losses) (realized and unrealized):
Included in earnings	499	251		-73
Included in other comprehensive income
Settlements	-24	-28	-92	-105
Transfers in and/or out of level 3
Balance, end of period	961	843	961	843
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date	475	224	45	-178
Other [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	-15	5	4	1
Total gains/(losses) (realized and unrealized):
Included in earnings	-5		-18	4
Included in other comprehensive income
Settlements	2		-4
Transfers in and/or out of level 3
Balance, end of period	-18	5	-18	5
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date	-4	-1	-16	5
Total Derivative Instruments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	383	542	984	982
Total gains/(losses) (realized and unrealized):
Included in earnings	504	270	-12	-72
Included in other comprehensive income
Settlements	-32	-32	-117	-130
Transfers in and/or out of level 3
Balance, end of period	855	780	855	780
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to instruments still held at the reporting date	$479	$238	$26	($199)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Includ

Fair Value Measurements - Included in Earnings (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net	$480	$245	($73)	($172)
Interest expense	24	25	61	100
Total	$504	$270	($12)	($72)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Unobse

Fair Value Measurements - Unobservable Data Used in Recurring Valuations of Level 3 (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	855
Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Constant Prepayment Rate [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Derivative, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	2.60%
Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Constant prepayment rate	Constant prepayment rate
Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	961
Discounted cash flow	Discounted cash flow
Other [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	-18
Consumer Price Index/LIBOR Basis Swaps [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	41
Discounted cash flow	Discounted cash flow
Consumer Price Index/LIBOR Basis Swaps [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Bid/Ask Adjustment to Discount Rate [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Derivative, Lower Range of Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.05%
Derivative, Higher Range of Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.05%
Derivative, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.05%
Consumer Price Index/LIBOR Basis Swaps [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Bid/ask adjustment to discount rate	Bid/ask adjustment to discount rate
Prime/LIBOR Basis Swaps [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Bid/Ask Adjustment to Discount Rate [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Derivative, Lower Range of Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.08%
Derivative, Higher Range of Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.08%
Derivative, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.08%
Prime/LIBOR Basis Swaps [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Constant Prepayment Rate [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Derivative, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	4.30%
Prime/LIBOR Basis Swaps [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Constant prepayment rate	Constant prepayment rate
Bid/ask adjustment to discount rate	Bid/ask adjustment to discount rate
Prime/LIBOR Basis Swaps [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	-129
Discounted cash flow	Discounted cash flow

Fair_Value_Measurements_Fair_V

Fair Value Measurements - Fair Values of Financial Assets and Liabilities, Including Derivative Financial Instruments (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total earning assets	$153,046	$171,117
Total interest-bearing liabilities	148,690	166,071
Fair Value [Member] | Floor Income Contracts [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	-1,564	-2,154
Fair Value [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	665	1,337
Fair Value [Member] | Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	982	1,099
Fair Value [Member] | Other [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	-18	4
Fair Value [Member] | Short-Term Borrowings [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total interest-bearing liabilities	15,588	19,861
Fair Value [Member] | Long-Term Borrowings [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total interest-bearing liabilities	133,102	146,210
Fair Value [Member] | FFELP Loans [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total earning assets	105,809	125,042
Fair Value [Member] | Private Education Loans [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total earning assets	37,625	36,081
Fair Value [Member] | Cash and Investments [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total earning assets	9,612	9,994
Carrying Value [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total earning assets	153,714	172,540
Total interest-bearing liabilities	152,516	172,257
Carrying Value [Member] | Floor Income Contracts [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	-1,564	-2,154
Carrying Value [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	665	1,337
Carrying Value [Member] | Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	982	1,099
Carrying Value [Member] | Other [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	-18	4
Carrying Value [Member] | Short-Term Borrowings [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total interest-bearing liabilities	15,572	19,856
Carrying Value [Member] | Long-Term Borrowings [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total interest-bearing liabilities	136,944	152,401
Carrying Value [Member] | FFELP Loans [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total earning assets	106,350	125,612
Carrying Value [Member] | Private Education Loans [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total earning assets	37,752	36,934
Carrying Value [Member] | Cash and Investments [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total earning assets	9,612	9,994
Difference [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total earning assets	-668	-1,423
Total interest-bearing liabilities	3,826	6,186
Excess of net asset fair value over carrying value	3,158	4,763
Difference [Member] | Short-Term Borrowings [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total interest-bearing liabilities	-16	-5
Difference [Member] | Long-Term Borrowings [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total interest-bearing liabilities	3,842	6,191
Difference [Member] | FFELP Loans [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total earning assets	-541	-570
Difference [Member] | Private Education Loans [Member]
Fair Values Of Financial Assets And Liabilities Including Derivative Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total earning assets	($127)	($853)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Fair_V1

Fair Value Measurements - Fair Values of Financial Assets and Liabilities, Including Derivative Financial Instruments (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Available-for-sale investments, cost basis	$94	$78
Available-for-sale investments, fair value	$93	$81

Segment_Reporting_Asset_Inform

Segment Reporting - Asset Information for Company's Consumer Lending Business Segment (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other	$7,420	$8,273
Total assets	161,570	181,260
Operating Segments [Member] | Consumer Lending [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Private Education Loans, net	37,752	36,934
Cash and investments	2,268	2,731
Other	3,599	3,275
Total assets	$43,619	$42,940

Segment_Reporting_Additional_I

Segment Reporting - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 25, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
						Operating Segments [Member]	Operating Segments [Member]	Operating Segments [Member]	Operating Segments [Member]	Operating Segments [Member]
						Business Services [Member]	Business Services [Member]	Business Services [Member]	Other Segment [Member]	Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain per diluted share	$0.57	$0.39	$2.52	$1.18		$0.14
Total assets	$161,570		$161,570		$181,260		$826	$867	$2,600	$1,800
FFELP Loans	$106,350		$106,350		$125,612

Segment_Reporting_Asset_Inform1

Segment Reporting - Asset Information for Company's FFELP Loans Business Segment (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
FFELP Loans	$106,350	$125,612
Other	7,420	8,273
Total assets	161,570	181,260
Operating Segments [Member] | FFELP Loans [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
FFELP Loans	106,350	125,612
Cash and investments	5,025	5,766
Other	3,114	4,286
Total assets	$114,489	$135,664

Segment_Reporting_Segment_Resu

Segment Reporting - Segment Results and Reconciliations to GAAP (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Interest income:
Student loans	$1,333	$1,455	$4,022	$4,315
Other loans	3	4	9	13
Cash and investments	4	5	13	16
Total interest income	1,340	1,464	4,044	4,344
Total interest expense	541	645	1,666	1,968
Net interest income (loss)	799	819	2,378	2,376
Less: provisions for loan losses	207	270	649	766
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses	592	549	1,729	1,610
Other income (loss):
Gains (losses) on sales of loans and investments			307	1
Servicing revenue	83	71	223	212
Contingency revenue	104	85	312	261
Gains on debt repurchases		44	42	102
Other income (loss)	-118	-231	-74	-561
Total other income (loss)	69	-31	810	15
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	198	166	557	503
Overhead expenses	59	54	180	169
Total operating expenses	257	220	737	672
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization	4	5	10	13
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses	12	2	46	9
Total expenses	273	227	793	694
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	388	291	1,746	931
Income tax expense (benefit)	136	104	645	340
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	252	187	1,101	591
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)	8		47	-2
Net income (loss)	260	187	1,148	589
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		-1	-1	-2
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	260	188	1,149	591
Reclassifications [Member]
Interest income:
Student loans	201	206	612	643
Total interest income	201	206	612	643
Total interest expense	12	26	44	95
Net interest income (loss)	189	180	568	548
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses	189	180	568	548
Other income (loss):
Gains on debt repurchases			-6
Other income (loss)	-189	-180	-562	-548
Total other income (loss)	-189	-180	-568	-548
Additions/ (Subtractions) [Member]
Interest income:
Student loans	-77	-78	-229	-274
Total interest income	-77	-78	-229	-274
Total interest expense	1	1	-1	3
Net interest income (loss)	-78	-79	-228	-277
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses	-78	-79	-228	-277
Other income (loss):
Other income (loss)	59	-61	462	-47
Total other income (loss)	59	-61	462	-47
Expenses:
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization	4	5	10	13
Total expenses	4	5	10	13
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	-23	-145	224	-337
Income tax expense (benefit)	-12	-56	89	-125
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	-11	-89	135	-212
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)			-1	-1
Net income (loss)	-11	-89	134	-213
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	-11	-89	134	-213
Total Adjustments [Member]
Interest income:
Student loans	124	128	383	369
Total interest income	124	128	383	369
Total interest expense	13	27	43	98
Net interest income (loss)	111	101	340	271
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses	111	101	340	271
Other income (loss):
Gains on debt repurchases			-6
Other income (loss)	-130	-241	-100	-595
Total other income (loss)	-130	-241	-106	-595
Expenses:
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization	4	5	10	13
Total expenses	4	5	10	13
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	-23	-145	224	-337
Income tax expense (benefit)	-12	-56	89	-125
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	-11	-89	135	-212
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)			-1	-1
Net income (loss)	-11	-89	134	-213
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	-11	-89	134	-213
Total Core Earnings [Member]
Interest income:
Student loans	1,209	1,327	3,639	3,946
Other loans	3	4	9	13
Cash and investments	4	5	13	16
Total interest income	1,216	1,336	3,661	3,975
Total interest expense	528	618	1,623	1,870
Net interest income (loss)	688	718	2,038	2,105
Less: provisions for loan losses	207	270	649	766
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses	481	448	1,389	1,339
Other income (loss):
Gains (losses) on sales of loans and investments			307	1
Servicing revenue	83	71	223	212
Contingency revenue	104	85	312	261
Gains on debt repurchases		44	48	102
Other income (loss)	12	10	26	34
Total other income (loss)	199	210	916	610
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	198	166	557	503
Overhead expenses	59	54	180	169
Total operating expenses	257	220	737	672
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses	12	2	46	9
Total expenses	269	222	783	681
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	411	436	1,522	1,268
Income tax expense (benefit)	148	160	556	465
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	263	276	966	803
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)	8		48	-1
Net income (loss)	271	276	1,014	802
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		-1	-1	-2
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	271	277	1,015	804
Operating Segments [Member] | Consumer Lending [Member]
Interest income:
Student loans	635	615	1,884	1,856
Cash and investments	1	2	5	6
Total interest income	636	617	1,889	1,862
Total interest expense	203	209	613	616
Net interest income (loss)	433	408	1,276	1,246
Less: provisions for loan losses	195	252	607	712
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses	238	156	669	534
Other income (loss):
Servicing revenue	11	12	31	36
Total other income (loss)	11	12	31	36
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	85	68	228	199
Total operating expenses	85	68	228	199
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses		1	2	3
Total expenses	85	69	230	202
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	164	99	470	368
Income tax expense (benefit)	59	36	171	134
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	105	63	299	234
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)		-1	-1	-1
Net income (loss)	105	62	298	233
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	105	62	298	233
Operating Segments [Member] | Business Services [Member]
Interest income:
Cash and investments	1	2	4	5
Total interest income	1	2	4	5
Net interest income (loss)	1	2	4	5
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses	1	2	4	5
Other income (loss):
Servicing revenue	174	201	541	619
Contingency revenue	104	85	312	261
Other income (loss)	6	7	20	25
Total other income (loss)	284	293	873	905
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	103	88	299	269
Total operating expenses	103	88	299	269
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses			1	2
Total expenses	103	88	300	271
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	182	207	577	639
Income tax expense (benefit)	66	76	211	234
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	116	131	366	405
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)	8	1	49
Net income (loss)	124	132	415	405
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		-1	-1	-2
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	124	133	416	407
Operating Segments [Member] | FFELP Loans [Member]
Interest income:
Student loans	574	712	1,755	2,090
Cash and investments	2	3	5	10
Total interest income	576	715	1,760	2,100
Total interest expense	313	399	978	1,233
Net interest income (loss)	263	316	782	867
Less: provisions for loan losses	12	18	42	54
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses	251	298	740	813
Other income (loss):
Gains (losses) on sales of loans and investments			312
Servicing revenue	21	22	60	68
Total other income (loss)	21	22	372	68
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	129	171	430	537
Total operating expenses	129	171	430	537
Total expenses	129	171	430	537
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	143	149	682	344
Income tax expense (benefit)	51	55	249	126
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	92	94	433	218
Net income (loss)	92	94	433	218
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	92	94	433	218
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Segment [Member]
Interest income:
Other loans	3	4	9	13
Cash and investments	1		3
Total interest income	4	4	12	13
Total interest expense	13	12	36	26
Net interest income (loss)	-9	-8	-24	-13
Net interest income (loss) after provisions for loan losses	-9	-8	-24	-13
Other income (loss):
Gains (losses) on sales of loans and investments			-5	1
Servicing revenue				1
Gains on debt repurchases		44	48	102
Other income (loss)	6	3	6	9
Total other income (loss)	6	47	49	113
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	4	3	9	10
Overhead expenses	59	54	180	169
Total operating expenses	63	57	189	179
Restructuring and other reorganization expenses	12	1	43	4
Total expenses	75	58	232	183
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax expense (benefit)	-78	-19	-207	-83
Income tax expense (benefit)	-28	-7	-75	-29
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	-50	-12	-132	-54
Net income (loss)	-50	-12	-132	-54
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	-50	-12	-132	-54
Eliminations [Member]
Interest income:
Cash and investments	-1	-2	-4	-5
Total interest income	-1	-2	-4	-5
Total interest expense	-1	-2	-4	-5
Other income (loss):
Servicing revenue	-123	-164	-409	-512
Total other income (loss)	-123	-164	-409	-512
Expenses:
Direct operating expenses	-123	-164	-409	-512
Total operating expenses	-123	-164	-409	-512
Total expenses	($123)	($164)	($409)	($512)

Segment_Reporting_Segment_Resu1

Segment Reporting - Segment Result and Reconciliations to GAAP - Core Earnings Adjustments (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Results And Reconciliations [Line Items]
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses	$592	$549	$1,729	$1,610
Total other income (loss)	69	-31	810	15
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization	4	5	10	13
Income tax expense (benefit)	136	104	645	340
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	260	188	1,149	591
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)	8		47	-2
Total Adjustments [Member]
Segment Results And Reconciliations [Line Items]
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses	111	101	340	271
Total other income (loss)	-130	-241	-106	-595
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization	4	5	10	13
Total "Core Earnings" adjustments to GAAP	-23	-145	224	-337
Income tax expense (benefit)	-12	-56	89	-125
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	-11	-89	134	-213
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit)			-1	-1
Net Impact of Derivative Accounting [Member] | Total Adjustments [Member]
Segment Results And Reconciliations [Line Items]
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses	111	101	340	271
Total other income (loss)	-130	-241	-106	-595
Total "Core Earnings" adjustments to GAAP	-19	-140	234	-324
Net Impact of Goodwill and Acquired Intangibles [Member] | Total Adjustments [Member]
Segment Results And Reconciliations [Line Items]
Goodwill and acquired intangible asset impairment and amortization	4	5	10	13
Total "Core Earnings" adjustments to GAAP	($4)	($5)	($10)	($13)

Segment_Reporting_Segment_Resu2

Segment Reporting - Segment Result and Reconciliations to GAAP - Core Earnings Adjustments (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Other derivative accounting adjustments	($4)	($9)	$41	$2
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative and hedging activities, net	$62	($53)	$422	($52)

Segment_Reporting_Core_Earning

Segment Reporting - Core Earnings Adjustments to GAAP (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Summary of "Core Earnings" Adjustments to GAAP
Income tax (expense) benefit	($136)	($104)	($645)	($340)
Net effect from discontinued operations	8		47	-2
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	260	188	1,149	591
Total Adjustments [Member]
Summary of "Core Earnings" Adjustments to GAAP
Core Earnings adjustments to GAAP	-23	-145	224	-337
Income tax (expense) benefit	12	56	-89	125
Net effect from discontinued operations			-1	-1
Net income (loss) attributable to SLM Corporation	-11	-89	134	-213
Total Adjustments [Member] | Net Impact of Derivative Accounting [Member]
Summary of "Core Earnings" Adjustments to GAAP
Core Earnings adjustments to GAAP	-19	-140	234	-324
Total Adjustments [Member] | Net Impact of Goodwill and Acquired Intangibles [Member]
Summary of "Core Earnings" Adjustments to GAAP
Core Earnings adjustments to GAAP	($4)	($5)	($10)	($13)

Segment_Reporting_Core_Earning1

Segment Reporting - Core Earnings Adjustments to GAAP (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Amount that will be equal to cumulative net unrealized gain or loss over the life of the contract	$0

Discontinued_Operations_Additi

Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 25, 2013
		Operating Segments [Member]
		Business Services [Member]
		Plans
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
After-tax gain on sale of business	$38
Type of college savings plan		529
Gain per diluted share on sale of business		$0.14

Discontinued_Operations_Summar

Discontinued Operations - Summary of Discontinued Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	$1		$36	($3)
Income tax (benefit)	-7		-11	-1
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$8		$47	($2)