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

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- Definition Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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- Definition Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Discount rate from fair value on offering date that participants pay for shares. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (f)(2)(iii) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition The number of shares purchased on the open market during the period for issuance to employees under the plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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