Additional Proceeds From Sale Of Debt Securities, Available-For-Sale

No definition available.

Name:	slm_AdditionalProceedsFromSaleOfDebtSecuritiesAvailableForSale
Namespace Prefix:	slm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Vertical Risk Retention, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	slm_VerticalRiskRetentionPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	slm_
Data Type:	dtr-types1:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of realized gain on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-9

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from sale of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481830/320-10-45-11

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-9

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-12

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-11

+ Details

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

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481674/830-30-50-2

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 855
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483399/855-10-50-2

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (trading).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481830/320-10-45-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(2))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483467/210-10-45-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=slm_SMBPrivateEducationLoanTrust2024BMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=slm_PrivateEducationLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 11, 2024	Mar. 31, 2024	Apr. 09, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Trading investments		$ 58,166		$ 54,481
Vertical risk retention interest		5.00%
Subsequent Event \| SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2024-B
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Vertical risk retention interest	5.00%
Private Education Loans \| Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Trading investments			$ 69,000
Private Education Loans \| Subsequent Event \| SMB Private Education Loan Trust 2024-B
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Private education loans sold	$ 191,000
Additional proceeds from sale	10,000
Gain on sale	$ 1,000