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Allowance for Loan Losses - Age Analysis of Past Due Loans Delinquencies (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Loans in repayment and percentage of each status: |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for loan losses | $ (89,805)us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance |  | $ (83,842)us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance |  | $ (77,634)us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance | $ (68,081)us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
Private Education Loans |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Loans in-school/grace/deferment | 3,603,478 slm_LoanStatusInSchoolGraceAndDefermentRecordedInvestment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [1] | 3,027,143 slm_LoanStatusInSchoolGraceAndDefermentRecordedInvestment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [1] |  |
Loans in forbearance | 170,162 slm_LoanStatusForbearanceRecordedInvestment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [2] | 135,018 slm_LoanStatusForbearanceRecordedInvestment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [2] |  |
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status: |  |  |  |  |  |
Loans current | 5,896,132 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentCurrent / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | 5,045,600 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentCurrent / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  |  |
Loans delinquent 31-60 days | 54,883 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment30To59DaysPastDue / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [3] | 63,873 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment30To59DaysPastDue / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [3] |  |
Loans delinquent 61-90 days | 31,202 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment60To89DaysPastDue / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [3] | 29,041 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment60To89DaysPastDue / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [3] |  |
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days | 12,904 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [3] | 10,701 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [3] |  |
Total loans in repayment | 5,995,121 slm_LoansInRepayment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | 5,149,215 slm_LoansInRepayment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  |  |
Total loans, gross | 9,768,761 slm_LoansGross / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | 8,311,376 slm_LoansGross / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  |  |
Deferred origination costs | 17,627 slm_NetUnamortizedPremiumOrDiscount / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | 13,845 slm_NetUnamortizedPremiumOrDiscount / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  |  |
Total loans | 9,786,388 slm_Loans / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | 8,325,221 slm_Loans / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  |  |
Allowance for loan losses | (85,236)us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | (78,574)us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | (71,453)us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | (61,763)us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember
Total loans, net | 9,701,152 us-gaap_LoansReceivableNet / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | 8,246,647 us-gaap_LoansReceivableNet / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  |  |
Loans current, in percentage | 98.40%slm_LoansInRepaymentCurrentInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | 98.00%slm_LoansInRepaymentCurrentInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  |  |
Loans delinquent 31-60 days, in percentage | 0.90%slm_LoansInRepaymentDelinquentThirtyOneToSixtyDaysInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [3] | 1.20%slm_LoansInRepaymentDelinquentThirtyOneToSixtyDaysInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [3] |  |
Loans delinquent 61-90 days, in percentage | 0.50%slm_LoansInRepaymentDelinquentSixtyOneToNinetyDaysInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [3] | 0.60%slm_LoansInRepaymentDelinquentSixtyOneToNinetyDaysInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [3] |  |
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days, in percentage | 0.20%slm_LoansInRepaymentDelinquentGreaterThanNinetyDaysInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [3] | 0.20%slm_LoansInRepaymentDelinquentGreaterThanNinetyDaysInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember | [3] |  |
Total loans in repayment, in percentage | 100.00%slm_LoansInRepaymentInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | 100.00%slm_LoansInRepaymentInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  |  |
Percentage of loans in repayment | 61.40%slm_PercentageOfLoansInRepayment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | 62.00%slm_PercentageOfLoansInRepayment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  |  |
Delinquencies as a percentage of loans in repayment | 1.70%slm_DelinquenciesAsPercentageOfLoansInRepayment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | 2.00%slm_DelinquenciesAsPercentageOfLoansInRepayment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  |  |
Loans in forbearance as a percentage of loans in repayment and forbearance | 2.80%slm_LoansInForbearanceAsPercentageOfLoansInRepaymentAndForbearance / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  | 2.60%slm_LoansInForbearanceAsPercentageOfLoansInRepaymentAndForbearance / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByIndustryOfCounterpartyTypeAxis = slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember |  |  |
Troubled Debt Restructured Loans [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Loans in-school/grace/deferment | 1,481 slm_LoanStatusInSchoolGraceAndDefermentRecordedInvestment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [1] | 2,915 slm_LoanStatusInSchoolGraceAndDefermentRecordedInvestment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [1] |  |
Loans in forbearance | 40,128 slm_LoanStatusForbearanceRecordedInvestment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [2] | 18,620 slm_LoanStatusForbearanceRecordedInvestment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [2] |  |
Loans in repayment and percentage of each status: |  |  |  |  |  |
Loans current | 73,944 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentCurrent / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember |  | 34,554 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentCurrent / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember |  |  |
Loans delinquent 31-60 days | 3,921 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment30To59DaysPastDue / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [3] | 1,953 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment30To59DaysPastDue / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [3] |  |
Loans delinquent 61-90 days | 1,873 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment60To89DaysPastDue / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [3] | 983 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment60To89DaysPastDue / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [3] |  |
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days | 773 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [3] | 377 us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [3] |  |
Total loans in repayment | 80,511 slm_LoansInRepayment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember |  | 37,867 slm_LoansInRepayment / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember |  |  |
Total loans, gross | $ 122,120 slm_LoansGross / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember |  | $ 59,402 slm_LoansGross / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember |  |  |
Loans current, in percentage | 91.80%slm_LoansInRepaymentCurrentInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember |  | 91.20%slm_LoansInRepaymentCurrentInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember |  |  |
Loans delinquent 31-60 days, in percentage | 4.90%slm_LoansInRepaymentDelinquentThirtyOneToSixtyDaysInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [3] | 5.20%slm_LoansInRepaymentDelinquentThirtyOneToSixtyDaysInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [3] |  |
Loans delinquent 61-90 days, in percentage | 2.30%slm_LoansInRepaymentDelinquentSixtyOneToNinetyDaysInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [3] | 2.60%slm_LoansInRepaymentDelinquentSixtyOneToNinetyDaysInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [3] |  |
Loans delinquent greater than 90 days, in percentage | 1.00%slm_LoansInRepaymentDelinquentGreaterThanNinetyDaysInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [3] | 1.00%slm_LoansInRepaymentDelinquentGreaterThanNinetyDaysInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember | [3] |  |
Total loans in repayment, in percentage | 100.00%slm_LoansInRepaymentInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember |  | 100.00%slm_LoansInRepaymentInPercentage / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = slm_TroubledDebtRestructuredLoansMember |  |  |
[1] | Deferment includes customers who have returned to school or are engaged in other permitted educational activities and are not yet required to make payments on the 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.

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