Pricing Supplement No. 52 dated December 13, 2004
(to Prospectus dated August 6, 2003
and Prospectus Supplement dated August 6, 2003)		   Filed under Rule 424(b)(3)
File No. 333-107132

SLM Corporation
Medium Term Notes, Series A
Due 9 Months or Longer From the Date of Issue


Principal Amount:
$500,000,000
 
Floating Rate Notes:
o
 
Fixed Rate Notes:
ý

Original Issue Date:
December 20, 2004
 
Closing Date: December 20, 2004
 
CUSIP Number:
78442F DE 5

Maturity Date:
January 15, 2010
 
Option to Extend Maturity:
ý No
 
Specified Currency:
U.S. Dollars
      If Yes, Final Maturity Date: o Yes      
Redeemable at the option of the Company:   ý    No   Redemption Price: Not Applicable.
    o    Yes   Redemption Dates: Not Applicable.
Repayment at the option of the Holder:   ý    No   Repayment Price: Not Applicable.
    o    Yes   Repayment Dates: Not Applicable.
Applicable to Fixed Rate Notes Only:        
Interest Rate: 4.000%   Interest Payment Dates:   Each January 15th and July 15thduring the term of the Notes, beginning July 15, 2005, subject to adjustment in accordance with the following business day convention.
Interest Accrual Method: 30/360   Interest Periods:   Except for the initial Interest Period, which begins on the Closing Date and ends on July 14, 2005, from and including the previous January 15th or July 15th, as the case may be, to and including the next succeeding July 14thor January 14th, as the case may be, with no adjustment to period end dates for accrual purposes.

Banc of America
Securities LLC
 
Barclays Capital
 
Citigroup

Joint Book-Running Managers


Credit Suisse First Boston
HSBC
 
Deutsche Bank Securities
Wachovia Securities

Co-Managers

December 13, 2004

MTN 0097


Form:
Book-entry.

Denominations:
$1,000 minimum and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Trustee:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank.

Agents:
The following agents are acting as underwriters in connection with this issuance.
 
 Agents
   Principal Amount of Notes
  Banc of America Securities LLC   $133,333,334.00
  Barclays Capital Inc.   133,333,333.00
  Citigroup Global Markets Inc.   133,333,333.00
  Credit Suisse First Boston LLC   25,000,000.00
  Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.   25,000,000.00
  HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.   25,000,000.00
  Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC   25,000,000.00
     
            Total   $500,000,000.00

Issue Price:
99.439%.

Agents' Commission:
0.350%.

Net Proceeds:
$495,445,000.

Concession:
0.200%.

Reallowance:
0.175%.

CUSIP Number:
78442F DE 5.

ISIN Number:
US78442FDE51.

An affiliate of one of the underwriters has entered into a swap transaction with the issuer in connection with the Notes and may have received compensation in connection with that transaction.

Obligations of SLM Corporation and any subsidiary of SLM Corporation are not guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America. Neither SLM Corporation nor any subsidiary of SLM Corporation (other than Student Loan Marketing Association) is a government-sponsored enterprise or an instrumentality
of the United States of America.

MTN 0097