<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-18-005538.txt : 20180213
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-18-005538.hdr.sgml : 20180213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180213165140
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-18-005538
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180213

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Thome Paul F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001668177

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13251
		FILM NUMBER:		18604323

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

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
</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>2018-02-10</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001668177</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Thome Paul F</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 Admin Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3727</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.67</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>219428</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1326</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.67</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>218102</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40846.836</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) Savings Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23847.021</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Supplemental 401(k) Savings Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On February 10, 2015, the reporting person 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 10, 2016, 2017 and 2018. On February 10, 2018, 12,698 shares vested in connection with these RSUs, of which 3,727 shares were withheld by the Company to satisfy the reporting person's tax withholding obligations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On February 10, 2015, the reporting person 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 transfer restrictions that lapse in one-third increments on February 10, 2016, 2017 and 2018. On February 10, 2018, the transfer restrictions lapsed in connection with 4,909 of these RSUs, of which 1,326 shares were withheld by the Company to satisfy the reporting person's tax withholding obligations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents the number of units held in a unitized stock fund in the Sallie Mae 401(k) Savings Plan and the Sallie Mae Supplemental 401(k) Savings Plan as of January 23, 2018.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Nicolas Jafarieh (POA) for Paul F. Thome</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
