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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 15, 2003

SLM CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  File No. 001-13251
(Commission File Number)
  52-2013874
(IRS Employer Identification Number)

11600 Sallie Mae Drive, Reston, Virginia    20193
(Address of principal executive offices)    (zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (703) 810-3000
Not Applicable (former name or former address, if changed since last report)





Item 5. Other Events

        On December 15, 2003, SLM Corporation issued $300,000,000 of its 6% Senior Notes due December 15, 2043.


Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

    SLM CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
JOHN F. REMONDI      
Name: John F. Remondi
Title: Executive Vice President, Finance

Dated: December 19, 2003

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SLM CORPORATION

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.

  Description
1.1   Underwriting Agreement, dated December 4, 2003, among SLM Corporation and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, as representatives of the underwriters named therein.

4.1

 

Officers' Certificate establishing the terms of SLM Corporation's 6% Senior Notes due December 15, 2043.

4.2

 

Global Note for $300,000,000 of SLM Corporation's 6% Senior Notes due December 15, 2043.

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SIGNATURES

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Exhibit 1.1

EXECUTION VERSION


SLM CORPORATION

6% SENIOR NOTES DUE DECEMBER 15, 2043

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

December 4, 2003

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
390 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
4 World Financial Center, 10th Floor
New York, New York 10080

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
1585 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10036

As Representatives of the Several Underwriters

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        SLM Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), confirms its agreement with you and each of the other underwriters named in Schedule I to this Agreement (collectively, the "Underwriters") for whom you are acting as representatives (collectively, the "Representatives"), with respect to the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of $275,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6% Senior Notes due December 15, 2043 (the "Initial Senior Notes"), as set forth in Schedule I to this Agreement, and with respect to the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) of this Agreement to request to purchase all or any part of an additional $41,250,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6% Senior Notes due December 15, 2043 (the "Option Senior Notes" and together with the Initial Senior Notes, the "Senior Notes"). The Senior Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of October 1, 2000, between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"), as supplemented relating to the Senior Notes (the "Indenture").

        The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-107132), including a prospectus, in respect of $20,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount (or the equivalent in foreign currency or currency units) of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock and warrants of the Company and shall promptly hereafter file with or transmit for filing to the Commission a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") specifically relating to the Senior Notes pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The term "Registration Statement" means the registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, as amended to the date of this Agreement. The term "Base Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. The term "Prospectus" means the Base Prospectus together with the Prospectus Supplement. As used herein, the terms "Base Prospectus" and "Prospectus" shall include in each case the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein. The terms "supplement," "amendment" and "amend" as used herein shall include all documents deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus that are filed subsequent to the date of the Base Prospectus by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").



        1.     Representations and Warranties. The Company hereby represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

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        2.     Sale and Delivery to the Underwriters; Delivery Date.

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        3.     Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

        (c)   From time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify the Senior Notes for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the

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Senior Notes, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

        (d)   Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement or as may be agreed to among the Representatives and the Company, and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time in connection with the offering or sale of the Senior Notes and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

        (e)   To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Securities Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158); and

        (f)    During the period beginning from the date of this Agreement and continuing to and including the later of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for the Senior Notes, as notified to the Company by the Representatives, and (ii) the Initial Delivery Date or the Subsequent Delivery Date, as applicable, for such Senior Notes, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company which mature more than one year after such Initial Delivery Date or Subsequent Delivery Date, as applicable, and which are substantially similar to such Senior Notes, without the prior written consent of the Representatives. The Representatives acknowledge and agree that Senior Notes issued in denominations other than $25 per note and not listed on a national securities exchange are not subject to this Section 3(f).

        4.     Payment of Expenses. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Senior Notes under the Securities Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters; (ii) the cost of printing or reproducing this Agreement, the Indenture, any Blue Sky and legal investment surveys and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Senior Notes; (iii) all fees, disbursements and expenses in connection with the qualification of the Senior Notes for offering and sale under state securities laws and in connection with any Blue Sky and legal investment surveys; (iv) any fees charged by security rating services for rating the Senior Notes; (v) any filing fees incident to any required review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Senior Notes; (vi) the cost of preparing, issuing, executing, authenticating and delivering the Senior Notes; (vii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Senior Notes on the New York Stock Exchange; (viii) the fees and expenses of any Trustee and any transfer or paying agent of the Company and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any Trustee or such agent in connection with the Indenture and the Senior Notes; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the Company's obligations hereunder (other than costs and expenses incurred by any Underwriter) which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 4. It is understood,

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however, that, except as provided in Sections 6 and 9, and in clause (iii) of this Section 4, the Underwriters shall pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel and transfer taxes on resale of any of the Senior Notes by them.

        5.     Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase and pay for the Senior Notes on each of the Initial Delivery Date and any Subsequent Delivery Date, as applicable, is subject to the following conditions being satisfied as of the Initial Delivery Date or Subsequent Delivery Date, as applicable:

        (a)   All representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct at and as of each Delivery Date, as applicable, it being understood that with respect to a Subsequent Delivery Date, the term "Prospectus" shall mean the Prospectus as amended or supplemented prior to such Subsequent Delivery Date;

        (b)   The Company shall have performed all of its obligations when and as provided under this Agreement;

        (c)   The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Securities Act and in accordance with Section 3(b) of this Agreement;

        (d)   No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission;

        (e)   All requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives' reasonable satisfaction;

        (f)    The Company shall not have sustained, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business, financial position or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented prior to the Initial Delivery Date or Subsequent Delivery Date, as applicable, the effect of which is in the judgment of the Representatives is so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the purchase by the Underwriters of Senior Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus prior to the Initial Delivery Date or Subsequent Delivery Date, as applicable;

        (g)   (i) No downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company's debt securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company's debt securities, provided this Section 5(g) shall not apply to any such rating agencies which shall have notified the Company of the downgrading in the rating of its debt securities and of which the Company shall have given the Representatives written notice prior to the execution of this Agreement;

        (h)   There shall not have occurred: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange"); (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company's securities on the Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared in the United States by Federal authorities, a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared in New York declared by either Federal authorities or New York State authorities, or a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in the District of Columbia declared by either Federal or District of Columbia authorities; or (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, if the effect of any such event specified in the clause (iv) in the judgment of the

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Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the purchase of the Senior Notes from the Company pursuant to this Agreement, on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;

        6.     Indemnification.

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        7.     Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Senior Notes.

        8.     Default by an Underwriter. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Senior Notes, the Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase such Senior Notes on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such Senior Notes, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Senior Notes on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Senior Notes, or the Company notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Senior Notes, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Delivery Date for such Senior Notes for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement.

        (b)   If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Senior Notes of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in Section 8(a), the aggregate principal amount of such Senior Notes which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes, to be purchased at the Delivery Date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Senior Notes which such Underwriter agreed to purchase, and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Senior Notes which such Underwriter agreed to purchase) of the Senior Notes of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

        (c)   If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Senior Notes of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in Section 8(a), the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes, to be purchased at the Delivery Date as referred to in Section 8(b), or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in Section 8(b) to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Senior Notes of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 4 of this Agreement and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 6 of this Agreement; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

        9.     Effect of Termination. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 8, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Senior Notes except as provided in Sections 4 and 6 of this Agreement; but, if for any other reason Senior Notes are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the

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Underwriters through the Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of such Senior Notes, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Senior Notes except as provided in Sections 4 and 6 of this Agreement.

        10.   Miscellaneous.

        (a)   Amendments; Supplements. This Agreement may be amended or supplemented if, but only if, such amendment or supplement is in writing and is signed by the Company and each Representative.

        (b)   Notices. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address or facsimile transmission number of the Representatives as set forth in Schedule V to this Agreement; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by facsimile transmission or registered mail to SLM Corporation, 11600 Sallie Mae Drive, Reston, Virginia 20193, Attention: Vice President, Finance, facsimile transmission number (703) 810-7655, with a copy to the Company, Attention: Marianne M. Keler, General Counsel, Facsimile Transmission No. (703) 810-7695. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

        (c)   Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, each Underwriter and the Company, and to the extent provided in Section 6, Section 7 and Section 8 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls any Underwriter or the Company, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of a Senior Note through or from any Underwriter hereunder shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

        (d)   Time of the Essence. Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement.

        (e)   Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

        (f)    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

        If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return six (6) counterparts to us.

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Very truly yours,


SLM CORPORATION

By:   /s/  C.E. ANDREWS      
   
Name:   C.E. Andrews
   
Title:   Executive Vice President, Accounting and Risk Management
   

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CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED:

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

On behalf of themselves and the several Underwriters
named in the Underwriting Agreement


MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

By:

 

/s/  
HAROLD J. HENDERSHOT III      

 

 
Name:   Harold J. Hendershot III    
Title:   Executive Director    

As Representatives of the Underwriters named in Schedule I to this Agreement

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SCHEDULE I

Name of Underwriter

  Principal Amount
of Senior Notes

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.   $ 46,800,000
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated     46,800,000
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated     46,800,000
UBS Securities LLC     46,800,000
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC     46,800,000
ABN AMRO Incorporated     1,500,000
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.     1,500,000
Banc of America Securities LLC     1,500,000
BB&T Capital Markets, Inc.     1,500,000
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.     1,500,000
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.     1,500,000
Credit Suisse First Boston LLC     1,500,000
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.     1,500,000
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.     1,500,000
Fahnestock & Co. Inc.     1,500,000
Goldman, Sachs & Co.     1,500,000
H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc.     1,500,000
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.     1,500,000
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.     1,500,000
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated     1,500,000
Lehman Brothers Inc.     1,500,000
Quick and Reilly, Inc.     1,500,000
RBC Dain Rauscher Inc.     1,500,000
TD Waterhouse Investor Services, Inc.     1,500,000
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc.     1,500,000
Wells Fargo Brokerage Services, LLC     1,500,000
Advest, Inc.     500,000
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated     500,000
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.     500,000
William Blair & Co.     500,000
D.A. Davidson & Co.     500,000
Ferris Baker Watts Incorporated     500,000
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc.     500,000
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC     500,000
C.L. King & Associates, Inc.     500,000
McDonald Investment Inc.     500,000
McGinn, Smith & Co. Inc.     500,000
Mesirow Financial, Inc.     500,000
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.     500,000
Pershing LLC     500,000
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.     500,000
Ryan, Beck & Co. LLC     500,000
Southwest Securities, Inc.     500,000
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company Incorporated     500,000
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.     500,000
   
Total   $ 275,000,000
   

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SCHEDULE II

[Opinion from General Counsel of SLM—substantially similar to the opinion, dated August 6, 2003, provided in connection with the MTN Distribution Agreement]

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SCHEDULE III

[Opinion from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP—substantially similar to the opinion, dated August 6, 2003, provided in connection with the MTN Distribution Agreement]

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SCHEDULE IV

The Company's independent certified public accountants shall furnish letters to the effect that:

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SCHEDULE V

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013
Facsimile:   (212) 816-6000
Attention:   Office of the General Counsel

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
4 World Financial Center, 10th Floor
New York, New York 10080
Facsimile:    
Attention:    

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
1585 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10036
Facsimile:   (212) 507-2409
Attention:   Transaction Management Group

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SLM CORPORATION 6% SENIOR NOTES DUE DECEMBER 15, 2043 UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE I
SCHEDULE II
SCHEDULE III
SCHEDULE IV
SCHEDULE V

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Exhibit 4.1


SLM CORPORATION

OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE

        This certificate is furnished to JP Morgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank, in its capacity as trustee (the "Trustee"), pursuant to Section 2.02(c) of the Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2000, as amended or supplemented (the "Indenture"), between SLM Corporation, formerly known as USA Education, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the Trustee.

        The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a Registration Statement (File No. 333-107132) including a Prospectus, dated August 6, 2003, and a Prospectus Supplement, dated December 4, 2003, with respect to the offering of $275,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6% Senior Notes due December 15, 2043 (the "Initial Senior Notes") and, subject to the agreement of the Company, up to $41,250,000 of 6% Senior Notes due December 15, 2043 (the "Option Senior Notes", and together with the Initial Senior Notes, the "Senior Notes"). By resolution dated January 28, 2003, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Company to issue and sell indebtednesss and authorized certain officers or any one of their designees to take or cause to be taken actions under such resolution.

        The undersigned, C.E. Andrews, Executive Vice President, Accounting and Risk Management of the Company, and Mary F. Eure, Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the Company, hereby make this certificate in order to set forth the terms of the Senior Notes to be issued under the Indenture on December 15, 2003.

        A. Board Resolution: The resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing issuance of the Senior Notes is attached as Exhibit A to this certificate. The Corporate Secretary of the Company hereby certifies that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and is in full force and effect on the date of this certificate.

        B. Terms and Conditions of the Senior Notes: The terms and conditions of the Senior Notes are as follows. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Officers' Certificate have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture and the Master Note (defined below).

        (1)  Title of the Senior Notes. The title of the Senior Notes is "6% Senior Notes due December 15, 2043." The Senior Notes shall be deemed a separate Series of Securities under the Indenture, known as "Series C".

        (2)  Aggregate Principal Amount of Senior Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes that may be authenticated and delivered is $275,000,000 and, subject to the agreement of the Company, up to an additional $41,250,000. The Company is entitled under Section 2.02(b) of the Indenture to reopen the Series of Senior Notes by offering additional Securities of such Series. Upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of the Notes and satisfaction of the requirements of Section 2.03 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate Senior Notes for the original issuance in a an aggregate principal amount as set forth in the Company Order.

        (3)  Maturity Date. The entire outstanding principal of the Senior Notes shall be payable on the Maturity Date set forth in the Master Note to Holders as of the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Maturity Date

        (4)  Interest. Interest shall be paid as set forth in the Master Note.

        (5)  Record Date. Payments of interest and principal shall be made to Holders on each Regular Record Date, determined as set forth in the Master Note.

        (6)  Registrar and Paying Agent. The Trustee shall be the Registrar and the Paying Agent with respect to the Senior Notes. Payments in respect of the Senior Notes represented by Global Securities (including principal and interest) shall be made in immediately available funds as provided in the Master Note.



        (7)  Redemption. The Senior Notes shall be redeemable at the option of the Company on any Business Day on and after December 15, 2008 (each, a "Redemption Date"). The Senior Notes may be redeemed on any Redemption Date, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date. Pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Indenture, the Company shall, at least sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company, notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount and the redemption price of the Senior Notes to be redeemed. Notwithstanding Section 3.03(a) of the Indenture, at least thirty (30), but not more than sixty (60), days before a Redemption Date, the Company and the Trustee shall send a notice of redemption by facsimile or some other form of electronic transmission, with a copy of such notice sent simultaneously by first-class mail, to the Depositary for the Senior Notes issued in book-entry form or to each Holder of the Senior Notes that are to be redeemed if the Senior Notes are issued in other than book-entry form. All provisions of Section 3.03 of the Indenture, with the exception of Section 3.03(a) which has been modified by this Paragraph B. (7), shall remain unchanged.

        (8)  Sinking Fund. The Senior Notes shall not have the benefit of any sinking fund.

        (9)  Denomination. The Senior Notes shall be issued in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof. The Senior Notes may be transferred or exchanged only in minimum denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof; and any attempted transfer, sale or other disposition of the Senior Notes in a denomination of less than $25 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever.

        (10)  Acceleration. In the Event of Default, the Trustee, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all of the outstanding Senior Notes, by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the Principal of the Senior Notes to be due and payable. Upon such declaration, the full amount of such Principal shall be due and payable immediately.

        (11)  Registered Securities. The Senior Notes shall be issuable only as Registered Securities (without coupons) and as permanent Global Securities. The Notes shall not be issuable in definitive form (other than in the name of the Depositary's nominee) except under the circumstances described in Section 2.15 of the Indenture. The Trustee shall act as transfer agent for the Senior Notes.

        (12)  Form of Notes. The master note for the Senior Notes and the form of fixed rate note attached thereto (the "Master Note") is to be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B to this Officers' Certificate.

        (13)  Depositary. The Depositary for the Senior Notes in book-entry form shall be The Depository Trust Company. Beneficial interests in such Notes shall be held through the Depositary.

        (14)  Currency. Payments of principal and interest on the Senior Notes shall be made in U.S. Dollars, and the Senior Notes shall be denominated in U.S. Dollars.

        (15)  Conversion. The Senior Notes shall not be convertible or exchangeable into any other class or series of securities.

        (16)  Defeasance. The Company shall not be entitled to defease payments under the Notes.

        (17)  Priority. The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and rank equally in right of payment with any other senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness that the Company may issue from time to time. The Senior Notes will rank senior to any subordinated indebtedness that the Company may issue from time to time.

        C. Trustee Payments

        (1)   Establishment of Account; Investments. The Company directs and authorizes the Trustee to establish one or more debt service accounts in respect of the Senior Notes. All or a portion of the

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amounts paid to the Trustee by the Company are to be deposited in such accounts and are to be invested and reinvested by the Trustee pursuant to written directions from the Company, which direction may be in the form of a standing direction. Such investments may be in one or more Eligible Instruments (as defined in the Indenture) or Eligible Investments (defined below). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no investment of any such amount may mature later than the Business Day preceding the applicable payment date (or, in the case of an investment in an obligation of the Trustee, no later than the applicable payment date) and no such investment may be sold prior to its maturity date. On each payment date, the trustee is required to withdraw any net reinvestment income and return such amount to the Company. The Trustee has no obligation to invest and reinvest any cash held in such accounts established by the Trustee in the absence of a timely and specific written investment direction from the Company. In no event is the Trustee liable for the selection of investments or for investment losses incurred thereon. The Trustee has no liability in respect of losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any investment prior to its stated maturity or the failure of the Company to provide timely written investment direction.

        "Eligible Investments" means book-entry securities, negotiable instruments or securities represented by instruments in bearer or registered form, with respect to which the Trustee has taken delivery, which evidence: (i) direct obligations of, and obligations fully guaranteed as to the full and timely payment by, the United States of America, (ii) demand deposits, time deposits or certificates of deposit of any depository institution or trust company incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof and subject to supervision and examination by Federal or State banking or depository institution authorities, provided that at the time of investment or contractual commitment to invest therein, the commercial paper or other short-term unsecured debt obligations (other than such obligations the rating of which is based on the credit of a person other than such depository institution or trust company) thereof shall be rated "A-1+" by Standard & Poor's Credit Market Services ("S&P") and "P-1" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"); (iii) commercial paper that, at the time of the investment or contractual commitment to invest therein, is rated "A-1" by S&P and "P-1" by Moody's; (iv)bankers' acceptances issued by any depository institution or trust company referred to in (ii) above; (v) repurchase obligations with respect to any security pursuant to a written agreement that is a direct obligation of, or fully guaranteed as to the full and timely payment by, the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof, the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America, in either case entered into with a depository institution or trust company the deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and whose commercial paper or other short-term unsecured debt obligations are rated "A-1+" by S&P and "P-1" by Moody's; and (vi) money market mutual funds registered under the Investment Company Act having a rating, at the time of such investment from each of S&P and Moody's in the highest investment category granted thereby. Any Eligible Investments may be purchased by or through Trustee or any of its affiliates and shall include such securities issued by the Trustee or its affiliates.

        D. Additional Certification. Each of the undersigned (i) has read Section 2.02 and other relevant provisions of the Indenture; (ii) has examined documents and made inquiries of officers of the Company in order to ascertain compliance with Section 2.02 of the Indenture; (iii) is of the opinion that the signing officer has made such examination and investigation as the signing officer deems necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether the conditions of Section 2.02 of the Indenture have been complied with; and (iv) is of the opinion that the requirements of Section 2.02 of the Indenture have been complied with.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed this certificate as of December 4, 2003.

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/s/  C.E. ANDREWS      
C.E. Andrews
  /s/  MARY F. EURE      
Mary F. Eure
Executive Vice President, Accounting Risk Management
SLM Corporation
  Vice President and Corporate Secretary abd
SLM Corporation

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SLM CORPORATION OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE

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Exhibit 4.2

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SECTION 2.15 OF THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, ONLY TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR TO A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY NOTE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE OF THIS NOTE FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL, SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER OF THIS NOTE, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST IN THIS NOTE.

REGISTERED   $300,000,000.00
No. 1   CUSIP:          78442P304
    ISIN:   US78442P3047


SLM CORPORATION

6% SENIOR NOTES DUE DECEMBER 15, 2043
(FIXED RATE)

Original Issue Date: December 15, 2003   Interest Rate: 6% per annum

Maturity Date: December 15, 2043

 

Interest Payment Dates: *

Redeemable On and After: December 15, 2008

 

Interest Accrual Period: **

Original Issue Discount Note: N/A

 

Maximum Interest Rate: N/A

Authorized Denomination: $25 or any integral multiple thereof

 

Accrual Method: 30/360 (Payment Basis)
*
March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning March 15, 2004, and the Maturity Date.

**
The period from and including the previous Interest Payment Date (or Original Issue Date, in the case of the first Interest Accrual Period) through the calendar day before the then-current Interest Payment Date (or Maturity Date, in the case of the last Interest Accrual Period).

        SLM CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, formerly known as USA Education, Inc. (the "Company"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal amount shown above on the Maturity Date shown above (or upon earlier redemption), and interest on the principal amount shown above at the rate per annum equal to the Interest Rate shown above, until the principal of this Note is fully paid or duly made available for payment.

        The Company will pay the interest then due and payable on each Interest Payment Date shown above and on the Maturity Date, and the principal amount shown above on the Maturity Date, provided if any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day, and no interest on such payment will accrue from or after the original Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date to the date of payment. "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

        The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on the Interest Payment Dates referred to above, will, as provided in the Indenture (defined on the reverse of this Note), be paid to



the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, provided that interest payable on the Maturity Date will be paid to the Person to whom the principal of this Note is payable. The "Regular Record Date" for each payment of interest is the first day of March, June, September or December immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date in that March, June, September or December, whether or not a Business Day, except that the Regular Record Date for the final Interest Payment Date will be the final Interest Payment Date. Any such interest which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, will cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date, and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee (defined on the reverse of this Note), notice of which will be given to the Holder of this Note not less than ten (10) days prior to such special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which this Note may be listed and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. The Company will pay interest at the applicable interest rate on overdue principal and, to the extent permitted by law, on overdue interest.

        Payments of principal and interest will be made at the office or agency of the Trustee maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debt, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears in the Register for this Note, provided that so long as this Note is represented by a Global Security, each payment will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds, if the Holder has provided the Trustee appropriate instructions for such payment.

        The principal of this Note and interest due at maturity will be paid upon maturity by wire transfer of immediately available funds against presentation of this Note at the office or agency of the Trustee maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

        REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE OF THIS NOTE, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH ON THE FACE OF THIS NOTE.

        This Note is governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

        Unless the certificate of authentication on this Note has been executed by JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank, the Trustee under the Indenture, or its successor thereunder by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, this Note will not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated: December 15, 2003

    SLM CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
JOHN F. REMONDI      
Name: John F. Remondi
Title: Executive Vice President, Finance

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
MARY F. EURE      
Name: Mary F. Eure
Title: Vice President and Corporate Secretary

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

        This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

    JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Trustee

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
PATRICIA RUSSO      
Authorized Signature

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[Reverse of Note]

SLM CORPORATION

6% SENIOR NOTES

DUE DECEMBER 15, 2043

(FIXED RATE)

        This Note is one of a duly authorized series of notes of the Company issued and to be issued under the Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2000 (the "Base Indenture"), between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee ("Trustee"), as supplemented by an Officers' Certificate, dated December 4, 2003, establishing the terms of the Company's 6% Senior Notes due December 15, 2043 (the "Senior Notes"), delivered by the Company to the Trustee under Section 2.02(c) of the Base Indenture (the Base Indenture, as amended or supplemented by the Officers' Certificate, collectively the "Indenture"). Reference is made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights and limitations of rights thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Senior Notes, and the terms upon which the Senior Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Note have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture. The term "Company", as used in this Note, includes any successor to the Company under the Indenture.

        The Note is one of a separate Series of Securities under the Indenture, known as "Series C", and designated as a 6% Senior Note due December 15, 2043. The Interest Accrual Period for each Interest Payment Date begins on and includes the previous Interest Payment Date through the calendar day before the then-current Interest Payment Date, provided that the first Interest Accrual Period begins on December 15, 2003 and ends on March 14, 2004, the calendar day before the first Interest Payment Date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The Calculation Agent will round all U.S. dollar amounts resulting from calculations of interest payments to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward, if necessary). The "Calculation Agent" will be the Company.

        The calculation agent on behalf of the Trustee will calculate the interest payable on this Note in accordance with the foregoing and will confirm in writing such calculation to the Paying Agent immediately after each determination. All determinations made by the calculation agent on behalf of the Trustee will be, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Company and the Holders of the Senior Notes.

        This Note may be redeemed at the option of the Company on any Business Day on and after the date specified on the face of this Note (each, a "Redemption Date"). This Note may be redeemed on any Redemption Date, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, upon not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days' notice prior to the proposed Redemption Date given by the Company and the Trustee to the Holder of this Note.

        In the event of redemption or repayment of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of like tenor in the aggregate principal amount to and in exchange for the portion of this Note that is not redeemed or repaid will be issued in the name of the Holder of this Note upon its cancellation.

        As described on the face of this Note, the entire principal amount of this Note will be due and payable on the Maturity Date. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all of the outstanding Senior Notes, by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal of all the Senior Notes due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

        The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as provided in the Indenture, the amendment of the Indenture and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the

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Holders of the Senior Notes at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Senior Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note will be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer of, exchange for or substitution of this Note, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

        Holders of Senior Notes may not enforce their rights pursuant to the Indenture or the Senior Notes except as provided in the Indenture. No reference in this Note to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or the Indenture will alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the time, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, prescribed in this Note.

        As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations set forth in the Indenture, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Note Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, and this Note duly executed by, the Holder of this Note or by his attorney duly authorized in writing and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

        The Senior Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $25.

        No service charge will be made for any such registration of transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

        Prior to the due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner of this Note for all purposes, whether or not this Note is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent will be affected by notice to the contrary.

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ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, will be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM     as tenants in common

TEN ENT

 


 

as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN

 


 

as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT—

 

 

 

Custodian

 

 
   
     
    (Cust)       (Minor)

 

 

Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

 

 



 

 



 

(State)

 

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

 



 

 

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Assignment

    FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned
hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
   
     


PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE


     


PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE


the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing



 

Attorney
to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:

 

 

 

 
   
 


(Signature Guarantee)

 

 

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SLM CORPORATION 6% SENIOR NOTES DUE DECEMBER 15, 2043 (FIXED RATE)
ABBREVIATIONS
Assignment