<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-17-008962.txt : 20170228
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-17-008962.hdr.sgml : 20170228
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170228173606
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-17-008962
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170226
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170228
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170228

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SLM CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001032033
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PERSONAL CREDIT INSTITUTIONS [6141]
		IRS NUMBER:				522013874
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 CONTINENTAL DRIVE
		CITY:			NEWARK
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19713
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(302) 283-8000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 CONTINENTAL DRIVE
		CITY:			NEWARK
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19713

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SALLIE MAE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020517

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	USA EDUCATION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000801

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SLM HOLDING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Rocha Charles P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001611857

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13251
		FILM NUMBER:		17649621

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 CONTINENTAL DRIVE
		CITY:			NEWARK
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19713
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-02-26</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001032033</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SLM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SLM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001611857</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Rocha Charles P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 CONTINENTAL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19713</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; Chief Marketing Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9601</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.96</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>266062</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8404</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.96</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>257658</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On February 26, 2016, Mr. Rocha was granted restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) representing rights to receive shares of common stock of SLM Corporation (the &quot;Company&quot;), subject to vesting conditions, to vest in one-third increments on February 26, 2017, 2018 and 2019. On February 26, 2017, 21,288 shares vested in connection with these RSUs, of which 9,601 shares were withheld by the Company to satisfy the reporting person's tax withholding obligations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The total number of shares of Common Stock is adjusted to correct for a prior administrative error with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock reported to be held by the Reporting Person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On February 26, 2016, a portion of Mr. Rocha's 2015 Management Incentive Plan was granted in the form of RSUs that carry transfer restrictions that lapse in one-third increments on February 26, 2017, 2018 and 2019, regardless of continued employment. On February 26, 2017, the restrictions lapsed on 18,190 RSUs, and 8,404 shares of the Company common stock were withheld to satisfy Mr. Rocha's tax withholding obligations.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Nicolas Jafarieh (POA) for Charles P. Rocha</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
