<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-18-009106.txt : 20180228
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-18-009106.hdr.sgml : 20180228
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180228162156
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-18-009106
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180226
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180228
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180228

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Quinlan Raymond J.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001439296

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13251
		FILM NUMBER:		18651501

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1451 F.D. ROOSEVELT AVENUE
		CITY:			SAN JUAN
		STATE:			PR
		ZIP:			00920

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>2018-02-26</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001439296</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Quinlan Raymond J.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 CONTINENTAL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19713</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>69499</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.16</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1156575</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16154</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.16</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1140421</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On February 26, 2016, 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 26, 2017, 2018 and 2019. On February 26, 2018, 151,261 shares vested in connection with these RSUs, of which 69,499 shares were withheld by the Company to satisfy the reporting person's tax withholding obligations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On February 26, 2016, 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 26, 2017, 2018 and 2019. On February 26, 2018, the transfer restrictions lapsed in connection with 37,063 of these RSUs, of which 16,154 shares were withheld by the Company to satisfy the reporting person's tax withholding obligations.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Nicolas Jafarieh (POA) for Raymond J. Quinlan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
