Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN 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
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0287
Expires: January 31, 2005
Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
CLARK JONATHAN C
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SLM CORP [SLM]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP & CFO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
300 CONTINENTAL DRIVE
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/03/2012
(Street)

NEWARK, DE 19713
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
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 Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 02/03/2012   A   70,877 (1) A $ 0 185,319 D  
Common Stock 02/03/2012   A   34,396 (2) A $ 0 219,715 D  

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 1474 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 15.99 02/03/2012   A   130,869     (3) 02/03/2017 Common Stock 130,869 $ 0 130,869 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
CLARK JONATHAN C
300 CONTINENTAL DRIVE
NEWARK, DE 19713
      EVP & CFO  

Signatures

 /s/ Carol R. Rakatansky (POA) for Jonathan C. Clark   02/07/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(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) Grant of Performance Stock Units ("PSUs") which is classified as "Common Stock," as permitted, since the PSUs will be settled solely by delivery of shares of the Company's common stock upon vesting. The PSUs will vest after a three-year performance period (2012-2014), with potential payout ranging from 0% to 130% of the target award based on the Company's cumulative "core net income" for such performance period. The PSUs will vest on the second business day after the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ending 2014 with the SEC, and in no event later than March 15, 2015.
(2) Grant of Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") which is classified as "Common Stock," as permitted, since the RSUs will be settled solely by delivery of shares of the Company's common stock. These RSUs represent a portion of the bonus amount for 2011 and are vested at grant but subject to transfer restrictions until settlement by delivery of common stock in one-third increments on the first, second and third anniversary of the grant date.
(3) These options vest as follows: 1/3 will vest on the first anniversary date of the grant (February 3, 2013); 1/3 will vest upon (i) the Company's common stock having a closing price per share that is at least $17.00 for any five consecutive trading days and (ii) the second anniversary of the grant date (February 3, 2014); and 1/3 will vest upon (i) the Company's common stock having a closing price per share that is at least $19.00 for any five consecutive trading days and (ii) the third anniversary of the grant date (February 3, 2015).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.