Derivative Financial Instruments - Impact of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest expense	$ 247,274	$ 100,223	$ 479,804	$ 190,229
Trading
Total	$ 5,958	$ 6,983	$ 9,892	$ 19,431
Derivative, Gain (Loss), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]	Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net	Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net	Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net	Gains (losses) on derivatives and hedging activities, net
Designated as Hedging Instrument
Fair Value Hedges
Interest recognized on derivatives	$ (5,980)	$ 8,912	$ (12,385)	$ 26,200
Hedged items recorded in interest expense	877	21,487	(6,158)	72,755
Derivatives recorded in interest expense	(765)	(21,152)	6,331	(72,471)
Trading
Total	(5,868)	9,247	(12,212)	26,484
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Accumulated Gain (Loss), Net, Cash Flow Hedge, Parent \| Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Cash Flow Hedges
Interest expense	11,826	(2,264)	22,104	(6,805)
Trading
Trading
Change in fair value of future interest payments recorded in earnings	0	0	0	(248)
Total	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (248)

Derivative Instruments Increase (Decrease) In Fair Value Of Future Interest Payments Recorded In Earnings

No definition available.

Name:	slm_DerivativeInstrumentsIncreaseDecreaseInFairValueOfFutureInterestPaymentsRecordedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	slm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) from the increase (decrease) in fair value of derivative and nonderivative instruments designated as fair value hedging instruments recognized in the income statement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 25
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480238/815-25-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnFairValueHedgingInstruments1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the increase (decrease) in fair value of the hedged item in a fair value hedge recognized in the income statement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the fair value of derivatives recognized in the income statement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4A
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4A

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicates line item in statement of income or comprehensive income that includes gain (loss) from derivative.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossStatementOfIncomeOrComprehensiveIncomeExtensibleEnumeration
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	enum2:enumerationSetItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNetAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectOfCashFlowHedgesOnResultsOfOperationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total amount of gain (loss) derived from fair value hedges recognized in earnings in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4C

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarningsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 830
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480167/946-830-55-10

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483581/946-220-45-3

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07(3))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483575/946-220-S99-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-22

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482925/835-30-45-3

Reference 6: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.9)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483589/942-220-S99-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (210.5-03(11))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483621/220-10-S99-2

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483013/835-20-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedGainLossNetCashFlowHedgeParentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis=us-gaap_ReclassificationOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: