SLM Corporation

Sallie Mae, legally known as SLM Corporation, is a publicly traded U.S. consumer banking company primarily focused on providing private education loans and related financial services. Headquartered in Newark, Delaware, its mission is to help students and families save, plan, and pay for college. The company originated as a government-sponsored enterprise in 1972 and privatized by 2004, later spinning off its federal loan servicing operations into Navient in 2014 to concentrate on private lending.

The company offers a comprehensive suite of financial products and services, including private student loans for undergraduate, graduate, and career training programs, encompassing specialized loans for medical, law, MBA, and dental studies. Beyond lending, Sallie Mae provides various savings products such as high-yield savings accounts, money market accounts, and Certificates of Deposit. It also offers free college planning tools, scholarship search resources, and financial aid guidance to assist students and families throughout their higher education journey.

Under the leadership of CEO Jonathan Witter, with Peter Graham and Kerri Palmer recently appointed Co-Presidents in April 2026, Sallie Mae maintains its position as the largest U.S. private student lender. Recent activities include reporting strong Q1 2026 financial results and raising full-year guidance, successfully pricing its first student loan asset-backed securities transaction of the year, and contributing to military appreciation initiatives through The Sallie Mae Fund. The company is strategically positioned to leverage changes in the federal student loan landscape, though it has also faced recent securities fraud lawsuits and allegations regarding student data.