Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  HELEEN MARK L
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
12/02/2008		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SLM CORP [SLM]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
12061 BLUEMONT WAY		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Sr. Vice Pres & General Cousel
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

RESTON, VA 20190		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 6,348
D
 
Common Stock 847.8335
I
By 401(k)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 09/25/2003 09/25/2011 Common Stock 1,500 $ 26.6466 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 03/08/2004 01/28/2013 Common Stock 6,000 $ 35.2 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 01/29/2005 01/29/2014 Common Stock 6,500 $ 37.87 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (1) 01/27/2015 Common Stock 6,000 $ 50.75 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (2) 07/28/2015 Common Stock 5,000 $ 51.6 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (3) 01/26/2016 Common Stock 6,500 $ 55.82 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) 01/25/2008 01/25/2017 Common Stock 6,500 $ 45.41 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (4) 01/31/2018 Common Stock 100,000 $ 21.5 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
HELEEN MARK L
12061 BLUEMONT WAY
RESTON, VA 20190		       Sr. Vice Pres & General Cousel  

Signatures

By: Mary F. Eure (POA) 12/10/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) These options become exercisable upon the Company's common stock having a closing price on the New York Stock Exchange of $60.90, for five trading days, they also become exercisable on the eighth anniversary of the grant (January 27, 2013), but no sooner than one year from the grant date.
(2) These options become exercisable upon the Company's common stock having a closing price on the New York Stock Exchange of $61.92, for five trading days, they also become exercisable on the eighth anniversary of the grant (July 28, 2013), but no sooner than one year from the grant date.
(3) These options become exercisable upon the Company's common stock having a closing price on the New York Stock Exchange of $66.98, for five trading days, they also become exercisable on the eighth anniversary of the grant (January 26, 2014), but no sooner than one year from the grant date.
(4) Fifty percent of these options become exercisable upon the Company's common stock having a closing price on the New York Stock Exchange of $25.80, for five trading days, but no sooner than January 31, 2009; 50 percent of these options become exercisable upon the Company's common stock having a closing price on the New York Stock Exchange of $30.10, for five trading days, but no sooner than January 31, 2010; they also become exercisable on the eight anniversary of the grant (January 31, 2016).
 
Remarks:
Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney

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