================================================================================ UNITED STATES 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): April 11, 2001 ------------------ USA EDUCATION, INC. Formerly known as SLM Holding Corporation (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 52-2013874 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 11600 SALLIE MAE DRIVE, RESTON, VIRGINIA 20193 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (703) 810-3000 ================================================================================

ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS On April 11, 2001, USA Education, Inc. consummated the issuance of $115,000,000 of Senior Notes due February 18, 2003, increasing the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of this series to $615,000,000. ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS (a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired: Not applicable. (b) Pro Form Financial Information: Not applicable. (c) Exhibits: 1.1 Underwriting Agreement, dated April 6, 2001, between USA Education, Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Banc of America Securities LLC 1.2 Pricing Agreement, dated April 6, 2001, between USA Education, Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Banc of America Securities LLC 4.1.1 Amendment to Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 11, 2001, between USA Education, Inc. and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee 4.1.2 Form of Global Certificates for $115,000,000 of Senior Notes Due February 18, 2003

SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. USA EDUCATION, INC. By: /s/ JOHN F. REMONDI -------------------------------------- Name: John F. Remondi Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dated: April 13, 2001

USA EDUCATION, INC. Form 8-K CURRENT REPORT EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ----------- ----------- 1.1 Underwriting Agreement, dated April 6, 2001, between USA Education, Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Banc of America Securities LLC 1.2 Pricing Agreement, dated April 6, 2001, between USA Education, Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Banc of America Securities LLC 4.1.1 Amendment to Second Supplemental Indenture, dated April 11, 2001, between USA Education, Inc. and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee 4.1.2 Form of Global Certificates for $115,000,000 of Senior Notes Due February 18, 2003

EXHIBIT 1.1 USA EDUCATION, INC. DEBT SECURITIES --------------- UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT April 6, 2001 Goldman, Sachs & Co. Banc of America Securities LLC c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co. 85 Broad Street New York, New York 10004 Ladies and Gentlemen: From time to time USA Education, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a "Pricing Agreement") in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and deletions as the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and therein, to issue and sell to the firms named in Schedule I to the applicable Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the "Underwriters" with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the securities specified therein) certain of its debt securities (the "Securities") specified in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement (with respect to such Pricing Agreement, the "Designated Securities"). The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Securities shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and in or pursuant to the indenture (the "Indenture") identified in such Pricing Agreement. 1. Particular sales of Designated Securities may be made from time to time to the Underwriters of such Securities, for whom the firms designated as representatives of the Underwriters of such Securities in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto will act as representatives (the "Representatives"). The term "Representatives" also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of the Underwriters and to an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm being designated as its or their representatives. This Underwriting Agreement shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to sell any of the Securities or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities. The obligation of the Company to issue and sell any of the Securities and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the Securities shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Securities specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify the aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities, the initial public offering price of such Designated Securities, the purchase price to the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the Representatives of such Underwriters and the principal amount of such Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter and shall set forth the date, time and manner of delivery of such Designated Securities and payment therefor. The Pricing Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth in the Indenture and the registration statement and prospectus with respect thereto) the terms

of such Designated Securities. A Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid transmission device designed to produce a written record of communications transmitted. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be several and not joint. 2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that: (a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-46056) (the "Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"); the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered or to be delivered to the Representatives and, excluding exhibits to the Initial Registration Statement, but including all documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained therein, to the Representatives for each of the other Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form; other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which became effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or document incorporated by reference therein has heretofore been filed or transmitted for filing with the Commission (other than prospectuses filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act, each in the form heretofore delivered to the Representatives); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Act, is hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in the Initial Registration Statement at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective but excluding Form T-1, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective, are hereinafter collectively called the "Registration Statement"; the prospectus relating to the Securities, in the form in which it has most recently been filed, or transmitted for filing, with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, being hereinafter called the "Prospectus"; any reference herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the applicable form under the Act, as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the Initial Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Initial Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any reference to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall be deemed to refer to the Prospectus 2

as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable Designated Securities in the form in which it is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such filing); (b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities; (c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities; (d) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (except as described in the Pricing Agreement) or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus; 3

(e) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; (f) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; (g) The Securities have been duly authorized, and, when Designated Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities, such Designated Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, which will be substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; the Indenture has been duly authorized and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, at the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities (as defined in Section 4 hereof), the Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; and the Indenture conforms, and the Designated Securities will conform, to the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented with respect to such Designated Securities; (h) The issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture, this Agreement and any Pricing Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been, or will have been prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof), obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters; (i) The statements set forth in the Prospectus as supplemented under the caption "Description of Senior Notes", insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, and under the caption "Underwriting", insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete in all material respects and fair; (j) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or in default in the performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan 4

agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound; (k) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the current or future consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries; and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others; (l) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, will not be an "investment company", as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"); (m) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates does business with the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba within the meaning of Section 517.075, Florida Statutes; (n) Arthur Anderson LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. 3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any Designated Securities and authorization by the Representatives of the release of such Designated Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer such Designated Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented. 4. Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to the Pricing Agreement relating thereto, in the form specified in such Pricing Agreement, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours' prior notice to the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Representatives for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance or at such other place and time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, such time and date being herein called the "Time of Delivery" for such Securities. 5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities: (a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable Designated Securities in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission's close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement relating to the applicable Designated Securities or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to such Securities and prior to the Time of Delivery for such Securities which shall be disapproved by the Representatives for such Securities promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise the 5

Representatives promptly of any such amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of such Securities, and during such same period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Securities, of the suspension of the qualification of such Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Securities or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order; (b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Securities 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 such Securities, 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; (c) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Business Day (defined in Section 14 hereof) next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in New York City as amended or supplemented 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 Securities 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 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; (d) 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 Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158); 6

(e) During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated Securities and continuing to and including the later of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for such Designated Securities, as notified to the Company by the Representatives and (ii) the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, 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 Time of Delivery and which are substantially similar to such Designated Securities, without the prior written consent of the Representatives; and (f) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act. 6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters 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 Securities under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement, any Indenture, any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and Legal Investment Surveys; (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities; (v) any filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of any trustee and any agent of any trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any trustee in connection with any Indenture and the Securities; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make. 7. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall be subject, in the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company in or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities are, at and as of the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions: (a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable Designated Securities shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with 7

Section 5(a) hereof; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives' reasonable satisfaction; (b) Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to the Representatives such written opinion or opinions (a draft of each such opinion is attached as Annex II(a) hereto), dated the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, with respect to the matters covered in paragraphs (i), (ii), (iv), (v), (vi), (x), (xii) and (xiii) of subsection (c) below as well as such other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters; (c) The general counsel of or other counsel employed by the Company, or outside counsel for the Company satisfactory to the Representatives shall have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion (a draft of such opinion is attached as Annex II(b) hereto), dated the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that: (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented; (ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; (iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the current or future consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries; and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others; (iv) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; (v) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture; and the Designated Securities and the Indenture conform to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented; (vi) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other 8

laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; and the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; (vii) The issue and sale of the Designated Securities being delivered at such Time of Delivery and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Designated Securities, the Indenture, this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Securities and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other material agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, nor will such actions result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation known to such counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its properties; (viii) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Designated Securities being delivered at such Time of Delivery or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or such Pricing Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Designated Securities by the Underwriters; (ix) Neither the Company nor any of its material subsidiaries is in violation of its By-laws or Certificate of Incorporation or in default in the performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound; (x) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Description of Senior Notes", insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Designated Securities, and under the caption "Underwriting", insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, constitute a fair summary of such terms, laws and documents; (xi) The Company is not an "investment company", as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act; (xii) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (other than the financial statements, related schedules and other financial information therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and they have no reason to believe that any of such documents, when they became effective or were so filed, as the case may be, contained, in the case of a registration statement which became effective under the Act, an 9

untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or, in the case of other documents which were filed under the Act or the Exchange Act with the Commission, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such documents were so filed, not misleading; and (xiii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and any further amendments and supplements thereto made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities (other than the financial statements, related schedules and other financial information therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; although such counsel does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, except for those referred to in the opinion in subsection (x) of this Section 7(c), such counsel has no reason to believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration Statement or any further amendment thereto made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that, as of its date, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or that, as of the Time of Delivery, either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements, related schedules and other financial information therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and such counsel does not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to be filed or any contracts or other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented which are not filed or incorporated by reference or described as required; Such counsel may rely on the opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as to matters of New York law. (d) On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated Securities at a time prior to the execution of the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities and at the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, the independent accountants of the Company who have certified the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the date of the Pricing Agreement or the date of the most recent report filed with the Commission containing financial statements 10

and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, if the date of such report is later than such date, and a letter dated such Time of Delivery, respectively, to the effect set forth in Annex II hereto, and with respect to such letter dated such Time of Delivery, as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives (the executed copy of the letter delivered prior to the execution of this Agreement is attached as Annex I(a) hereto and a draft of the form of letter to be delivered on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and as of each Time of Delivery is attached as Annex I(b) hereto); (e) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Designated Securities; (f) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company's debt securities or preferred stock by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the 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 or preferred stock; (g) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities there shall not have occurred any of the following: (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 by either Federal 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 this clause (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented relating to the Designated Securities; (h) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement; and 11

(i) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities a certificate or certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (e) of this Section and as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request. 8. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities. (b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred. (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the 12

commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include any statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party. The consent in this last sentence shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed and the indemnifying party agrees that the indemnified party shall in all cases be justified in withholding consent unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party. (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the other from the offering of the Designated Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by PRO RATA allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an 13

indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the applicable Designated Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters of Designated Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Securities and not joint. (e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act. 9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Designated Securities which it has agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, the Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase such Designated Securities 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 Designated Securities, 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 Designated Securities 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 Designated Securities, or the Company notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Designated Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone a Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities 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 the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities. (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Designated Securities, to be purchased at the Time of Delivery, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Designated Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Designated Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under such Pricing 14

Agreement) of the Designated Securities 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 Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Designated Securities, to be purchased at the Time of Delivery, as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities 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 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default. 10. 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 Securities. 11. If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Designated Securities with respect to which such Pricing Agreement shall have been terminated except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason Designated Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the 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 Designated Securities, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Designated Securities except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof. 12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement. 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 of the Representatives as set forth in the Pricing Agreement; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by facsimile transmission or registered mail to USA Education, Inc., 11600 Sallie Mae Drive, Reston, Virginia 20193, facsimile transmission number (703) 810-7586, Attention: General Counsel's office; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by the Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof. 15

13. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, 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 or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase. 14. Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used herein, "Business Day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office in Washington, D.C. is open for business. 15. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH PRICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 16. This Agreement and each Pricing 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 such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return counterparts to us, one for the Company and for each of the Representatives plus one for each counsel. Very truly yours, USA EDUCATION, INC. By: /s/ JOHN F. REMONDI ----------------------------------- Name: John F. Remondi Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Accepted as of the date hereof: GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. /s/ GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. - ---------------------------------------- Goldman, Sachs & Co. As Representative of the Underwriters 16

ANNEX I PRICING AGREEMENT - ----------------, As Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto ____________ ,2001 Ladies and Gentlemen: USA Education, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, dated February ___, 2001 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), between the Company on the one hand and Goldman, Sachs & Co. Salomon Smith Barney Inc. on the other hand, to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") the Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated Securities"). Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Designated Securities which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives designated to act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the Underwriters of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 12 are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto. An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the Commission. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto, the principal amount of Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto. If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us one for the Company and each of the Representatives plus one for each counsel counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company

for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof. Very truly yours, USA EDUCATION, INC. By: ------------------------------- Name: Title: Accepted as of the date hereof: By: ------------------------------------------------------ On behalf of each of the Underwriters 2

SCHEDULE I PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES TO BE UNDERWRITER PURCHASED ----------- ------------ ...................................................................................... $ ...................................................................................... ---------------- Total.............................................................. $ ================ 3

SCHEDULE II TITLE OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES: [ %] [Floating Rate] [Zero Coupon] [Notes] [Debentures] due , AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: [$] PRICE TO PUBLIC: % of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued interest[, if any,] from to [and accrued amortization [, if any,] from to ] PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS: % of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued interest from to [and accrued amortization[, if any,] from to ] FORM OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES: [Definitive form to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of [The Depository Trust Company or its designated custodian] [the Representatives]](13) [Book-entry only form represented by one or more global securities deposited with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its designated custodian, to be made available for checking by the Representatives at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of DTC.](14) SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE: Federal (same day) funds(15) TIME OF DELIVERY: a.m. (New York City time), , 2001 INDENTURE: Indenture dated , 2001 , between the Company and , as trustee MATURITY: INTEREST RATE: [ %] [Zero Coupon] [See Floating Rate Provisions] INTEREST PAYMENT DATES: [months and dates, commencing ....................., 2001] REDEMPTION PROVISIONS: [No provisions for redemption] 4

[The Designated Securities may be redeemed, otherwise than through the sinking fund, in whole or in part at the option of the Company, in the amount of [$ ] or an integral multiple thereof, [on or after , at the following redemption prices (expressed in percentages of principal amount). If [redeemed on or before , %, and if] redeemed during the 12-month period beginning , REDEMPTION YEAR PRICE ---- ---------- and thereafter at 100% of their principal amount, together in each case with accrued interest to the redemption date.] [on any interest payment date falling on or after , , at the election of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest to the date of redemption.]] [Other possible redemption provisions, such as mandatory redemption upon occurrence of certain events or redemption for changes in tax law] [Restriction on refunding] SINKING FUND PROVISIONS: [No sinking fund provisions] [The Designated Securities are entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund to retire [$ ] principal amount of Designated Securities on in each of the years through at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest[, together with [cumulative] [noncumulative] redemptions at the option of the Company to retire an additional [$ ] principal amount of Designated Securities in the years through at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest.] [IF DESIGNATED SECURITIES ARE EXTENDABLE DEBT SECURITIES, INSERT-- EXTENDABLE PROVISIONS: Designated Securities are repayable on , [insert date and years], at the option of the holder, at their principal amount with accrued interest. The initial annual interest rate will be %, and thereafter the annual interest rate will be adjusted on , and to a rate not less than % of the effective annual interest rate on U.S. Treasury obligations with -year maturities as of the [insert date 15 days prior to maturity date] prior to such [insert maturity date].] [IF DESIGNATED SECURITIES ARE FLOATING RATE DEBT SECURITIES, INSERT-- FLOATING RATE PROVISIONS: Initial annual interest rate will be % through [and thereafter will be adjusted [monthly] [on each , , and ] [to an annual rate of % above the average rate for 5

-year [month][securities][certificates of deposit] issued by and [insert names of banks].] [and the annual interest rate [thereafter] [from through ] will be the interest yield equivalent of the weekly average per annum market discount rate for -month Treasury bills plus % of Interest Differential (the excess, if any, of (i) the then current weekly average per annum secondary market yield for -month certificates of deposit over (ii) the then current interest yield equivalent of the weekly average per annum market discount rate for -month Treasury bills); [from and thereafter the rate will be the then current interest yield equivalent plus % of Interest Differential].] DEFEASANCE PROVISIONS: CLOSING LOCATION FOR DELIVERY OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES: ADDITIONAL CLOSING CONDITIONS: NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES: Designated Representatives: Address for Notices, etc.: [OTHER TERMS]: 6

ANNEX II Pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that: (i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission; (ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and any supplementary financial information and schedules audited (and, if applicable, financial forecasts and/or pro forma financial information) examined by them and included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the related rules and regulations; and, if applicable, they have made a review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the consolidated interim financial statements, selected financial data, pro forma financial information, financial forecasts and/or condensed financial statements derived from audited financial statements of the Company for the periods specified in such letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of which have been [SEPARATELY] furnished to the representative or representatives of the Underwriters (the "Representatives") such term to include an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm being designated as its or their representatives [AND ARE ATTACHED TO SUCH LETTERS]; (iii) They have made a review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus and/or included in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as indicated in their reports thereon copies of which [HAVE BEEN SEPARATELY FURNISHED TO THE REPRESENTATIVES][ARE ATTACHED TO SUCH LETTERS]; and on the basis of specified procedures including inquiries of officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters regarding whether the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements referred to in paragraph (vi)(A)(i) below comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the [ACT AND THE EXCHANGE] Act and the related rules and regulations, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the [ACT AND THE EXCHANGE] Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission; (iv) The unaudited selected financial information with respect to the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company for the five most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus and included or incorporated by reference in Item 6 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year agrees with the corresponding amounts (after restatement where applicable) in the audited consolidated financial statements for five such fiscal years included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for such fiscal years; (v) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under selected captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K and on the basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing came to their attention as a result of the foregoing procedures that caused them to believe that this information does not conform in all material respects with the disclosure requirements of Items 301, 302, 402 and 503(d), respectively, of Regulation S-K;

(vi) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other information referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, inspection of the minute books of the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of the Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial and accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that: (A) (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus and/or included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations adopted by the Commission, or (ii) any material modifications should be made to the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus or included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference in the Prospectus for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles; (B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items included in the Prospectus do not agree with the corresponding items in the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which such data and items were derived, and any such unaudited data and items were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year; (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included in the Prospectus but from which were derived the unaudited condensed financial statements referred to in clause (A) and any unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items included in the Prospectus and referred to in clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year; (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements; (E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the date of such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of options and stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance shares and upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus) or any increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, or any decreases in consolidated net current assets or stockholders' equity or other items specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts shown in the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, except in F-2

each case for changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and (F) for the period from the date of the latest financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus to the specified date referred to in clause (E) there were any decreases in consolidated net revenues or operating profit or the total or per share amounts of consolidated net income or other items specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with the comparable period of the preceding year and with any other period of corresponding length specified by the Representatives, except in each case for increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and (vii) In addition to the audit referred to in their report(s) included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures referred to in paragraphs (iii) and (vi) above, they have carried out certain specified procedures, not constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information specified by the Representatives which are derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, which appear in the Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference), or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement specified by the Representatives or in documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus specified by the Representatives, and have compared certain of such amounts, percentages and financial information with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and have found them to be in agreement. All references in this Annex II to the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) as defined in the Underwriting Agreement as of the date of the letter delivered on the date of the Pricing Agreement for purposes of such letter and to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) in relation to the applicable Designated Securities for purposes of the letter delivered at the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities. F-3

EXHIBIT 1.2 PRICING AGREEMENT Goldman, Sachs & Co. Banc of America Securities LLC As Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co. 85 Broad Street New York, New York 10004 April 6, 2001 Ladies and Gentlemen: USA Education, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2001 (the "UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT"), between the Company on the one hand and Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Banc of America Securities LLC on the other hand, to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "UNDERWRITERS") the Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the "DESIGNATED SECURITIES"). Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Designated Securities which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives designated to act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the Underwriters of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 12 are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto. An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the Commission. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto, the principal amount of Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto. If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us one for the Company and each of the Representatives plus one for each counsel counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company

for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof. Very truly yours, USA EDUCATION, INC. By: /s/ JOHN F. REMONDI ----------------------------------- Name: John F. Remondi Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Accepted as of the date hereof: GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. /s/ GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. - ----------------------------------------- Goldman, Sachs & Co. On behalf of each of the Underwriters

SCHEDULE I PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES TO BE UNDERWRITER PURCHASED ----------- ----------- Goldman, Sachs & Co. ................................................................. $92,000,000 Banc of America Securities LLC........................................................ 23,000,000 ------------ Total............................................................... $115,000,000 ============

SCHEDULE II TITLE OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES: Senior Notes due February 18, 2003 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $115,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT CURRENTLY OUTSTANDING: $500,000,000 PRICE TO PUBLIC: 100.0223% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued interest from March 16, 2001 PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS: 99.7723% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued interest from March 16, 2001 FORM OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES: Book-entry only form represented by two global securities deposited with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its designated custodian, to be made available for checking by the Representatives at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery. SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE: Federal (same day) funds TIME OF DELIVERY: 11:00 a.m. (New York City time), April 11, 2001 INDENTURE: Indenture dated as of October 1, 2000, Second Supplemental Indenture dated February 27, 2001 and First Amendment to Second Supplemental Indenture dated April 11, 2001, each between USA Education, Inc. and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee MATURITY: February 18, 2003 INTEREST RATE: For the period applicable to the June 18, 2001 interest payment date, 5.30%. Thereafter, three-month LIBOR, as determined on the second business day before the applicable accrual period, plus 0.28%, except that the last payment of interest will be based upon a two-month LIBOR, as determined on the second business day before the applicable accrual period, plus 0.28%. Interest on the Designated Securities will accrue from March 16, 2001. INTEREST PAYMENT DATES: Quarterly on March 16, June 16, September 16 and December 16 of each year, except that last payment of interest will be made on February 18, 2003.

REDEMPTION PROVISIONS: No provisions for redemption. SINKING FUND PROVISIONS: No sinking fund provisions. FLOATING RATE PROVISIONS: Annual interest rate will be 0.28% over three-month LIBOR, as determined on the second business day before the applicable accrual period. DEFEASANCE PROVISIONS: No defeasance provisions. CLOSING LOCATION FOR DELIVERY OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES: Offices of USA Education, Inc. 11600 Sallie Mae Drive Reston, Virginia 20193 ADDITIONAL CLOSING CONDITIONS: None. NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES: Goldman, Sachs & Co. 85 Broad Street New York, New York 10004 Banc of America Securities LLC 9 West 57th Street New York, New York 10019 Goldman, Sachs & Co. shall be entitled to execute documents and instruments on behalf of the Representatives and the Underwriters OTHER TERMS: None.

EXHIBIT 4.1.1 ================================================================================ AMENDMENT TO SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE between USA EDUCATION, INC. and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK Dated as of April 11, 2001 $115,000,000 SENIOR NOTES DUE FEBRUARY 18, 2003 ================================================================================

AMENDMENT TO SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of April 11, 2001 ("AMENDMENT TO SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE"), between USA Education, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"), under the Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2000, (the "BASE INDENTURE") and the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 27, 2001 ("SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE"), each between the Company and the Trustee (the Base Indenture, Second Supplemental Indenture and this Amendment to Second Supplemental Indenture, collectively, the "INDENTURE"). WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered the Base Indenture to the Trustee to provide for the future issuance of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company to be issued from time to time in one or more series as might be determined by the Company under the Indenture, in an unlimited aggregate principal amount which may be authenticated and delivered as provided in the Base Indenture; WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Base Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Company provided for the establishment of a series of senior unsecured and unsubordinated notes known as its Senior Notes due February 18, 2003, the form and substance of such Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof being as provided in the Base Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture; WHEREAS, the Company desires to increase the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes due February 18, 2003 from $500,000,000 to $615,000,000 to form a single series with the Company's Senior Notes due February 18, 2003 issued on February 27, 2001; WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Amendment to Second Supplemental Indenture; all requirements necessary to make this Amendment to Second Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument in accordance with its terms, and to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the valid obligations of the Company, have been performed; and the execution and delivery of this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized in all respects. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration for the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof, and for the purpose of setting forth, as provided in the Base Indenture, the form and substance of the Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee as follows: ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS 1.1 DEFINITION OF TERMS. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Global Note attached as EXHIBIT A to this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture, the terms of which are a part of this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture) have the meanings assigned to them below:

"AMENDMENT TO SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE" is defined in the introductory paragraph. "BASE INDENTURE" is defined in the introductory paragraph. "BUSINESS DAY" is defined in the Global Note. "COMPANY" is defined in the introductory paragraph. "COMPANY ORDER" is defined in the Base Indenture. "DEPOSITARY" is defined in the Base Indenture. "ELIGIBLE INSTRUMENTS" is defined in the Base Indenture. "GLOBAL NOTE" is defined in Section 2.3. "GLOBAL SECURITY" is defined in the Base Indenture. "HOLDER" is defined in the Base Indenture. "INDENTURE" is defined in the introductory paragraph. "INTEREST ACCRUAL PERIOD" is defined in the Global Note. "INTEREST PAYMENT DATE" is defined in the Global Note. "LIBOR BUSINESS DAY" is defined in the Global Note. "LIBOR DETERMINATION DATE" is defined in the Global Note. "NOTES" is defined in Section 2.1. "MATURITY DATE" is defined in the Global Note. "PAYING AGENT" is defined in the Base Indenture. "PERSON" is defined in the Base Indenture. "REGISTERED SECURITY" is defined in the Base Indenture. "REGISTRAR" is defined in the Base Indenture. "REGULAR RECORD DATE" is defined in the Global Note. "SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE" is defined in the introductory paragraph. "THREE-MONTH LIBOR" is defined in the Global Note. -2-

"TRUSTEE" is defined in the introductory paragraph. "TWO-MONTH LIBOR" is defined in the Global Note. 1.2 OTHER RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. For all purposes of this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires: (a) capitalized terms used and not defined in this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture have the meanings assigned to them in the Base Indenture; (b) capitalized terms defined in the Global Note have the meanings assigned to them in the Global Note; (c) all terms used in this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, whether directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them in the Trust Indenture Act; (d) "or" is not exclusive; (e) words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular; (f) a reference to a Section or Article is to a Section or Article of this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture; (g) the words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; and (h) headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect interpretation. ARTICLE 2 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES 2.1 TITLE OF SECURITIES. The title of the Securities is "Senior Notes due February 18, 2003" (the "NOTES"). 2.2 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES. The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered is $615,000,000, including the $500,000,000 previously issued pursuant to the Second Supplemental Indenture. The Company is entitled under Section 2.02(b) of the Base Indenture to further reopen the Series of 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 Base Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate Notes for original issuance in an aggregate principal amount of $115,000,000. -3-

2.3 FORM OF NOTES. The Notes and the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication to be endorsed on the Notes are to be substantially in the form attached as EXHIBIT A to this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture (the "GLOBAL NOTE"). 2.4 MATURITY DATE. The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on the Maturity Date set forth on the face of the Global Note to Holders as of the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Maturity Date. 2.5 INTEREST. The rate of interest on the Notes for each Interest Accrual Period after March 16, 2001 shall be Three-month LIBOR, plus the Spread set forth on the face of the Global Note, except that the rate of interest on the Notes for the final accrual period shall be Two-month LIBOR, plus the Spread set forth on the face of the Global Note, in each case determined by the Trustee as set forth in the Global Note. Interest shall accrue from the Original Issue Date set forth on the face of the Global Note, and the interest rate for the first Interest Accrual Period shall be as set forth in the Global Note. Interest is payable on each Interest Payment Date to Holders as of each Regular Record Date, determined as set forth in the Global Note. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the applicable Interest Accrual Period. Upon each determination of Three-month LIBOR, the Trustee shall forthwith notify the Company of such determination. The Trustee may appoint an agent to determine Three-month LIBOR. 2.6 RECORD DATE. Payments of interest and principal shall be made to Holders on each Regular Record Date, determined as set forth in the Global Note. 2.7 PAYING AGENT. The Trustee shall be the Registrar and the Paying Agent with respect to the Notes. Payments in respect of the Notes represented by Global Securities (including principal and interest) shall be made in immediately available funds as provided in the Global Note. 2.8 REGISTERED SECURITIES. The 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 Base Indenture. The Trustee shall act as transfer agent for the Notes. 2.9 DEPOSITARY. The Depositary for Notes in global form shall be The Depository Trust Company. Beneficial interests in such Notes shall be held through the Depositary. 2.10 DENOMINATION. The Notes shall be issued in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The Notes may be transferred or exchanged only in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; and any attempted transfer, sale or other disposition of Notes in a denomination of less than $1,000 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever. 2.11 CURRENCY. Payments of the principal and interest on the Notes shall be made in U.S. Dollars, and the Notes shall be denominated in U.S. Dollars. -4-

2.12 REDEMPTION. The Company shall have no option to redeem the Notes prior to their maturity, nor shall they be repayable before the Maturity Date at the option of any Holder. 2.13 SINKING FUND. The Notes shall not have the benefit of any sinking fund. 2.14 CONVERSION. The Notes shall not be convertible or exchangeable into any other class or series of securities. 2.15 DEFEASANCE. The Company shall not be entitled to defease payments under the Notes. 2.16. PRIORITY. The 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 Notes will rank senior to any subordinated indebtedness that the Company may issue from time to time. ARTICLE 3 TRUSTEE PAYMENTS 3.1. ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNT; INVESTMENTS. The Company has directed and authorized the Trustee to establish and maintain a debt service account entitled the "USA Education, Inc. 2001-A Debt Service Account." All or a portion of amounts paid to the Trustee by the Company pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Base Indenture shall be deposited in the USA Education, Inc. 2001-A Debt Service Account established for such purpose and shall 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 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 shall be sold prior to its maturity date. On each payment date the Trustee shall withdraw any net reinvestment income and return such amount to the Company. The Trustee shall have no obligation to invest and reinvest any cash held in the USA Education Inc. 2001-A Debt Service Account in the absence of timely and specific written investment direction from the Company. In no event shall the Trustee be liable for the selection of investments or for investment losses incurred thereon. The Trustee shall have 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: (a) direct obligations of, and obligations fully guaranteed as to the full and timely payment by, the United States of America; (b) 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 -5-

time of the 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"); (c) 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; (d) bankers' acceptances issued by any depository institution or trust company referred to in (b) above; (e) 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 (i) 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 "Aaa" by Moody's; and (f) 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 the Trustee or any of its Affiliates and shall include such securities issued by the Trustee or its Affiliates. ARTICLE 4 MISCELLANEOUS 4.1 TERMS. The foregoing form and terms of the Notes have been established in conformity with the provisions of the Base Indenture. -6-

4.2 RATIFICATION OF BASE INDENTURE AND SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE; AMENDMENT TO SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE CONTROLS. The Base Indenture and Second Supplemental Indenture, as amended by this Amendment to Second Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Amendment to Second Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture and Second Supplemental Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided. The provisions of this Amendment to Second Supplemental Indenture (including the Global Note) shall supersede the provisions of the Base Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture to the extent the Base Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture is inconsistent herewith. 4.3 TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS. The recitals in this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture are made by the Company and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture. 4.4 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AMENDMENT TO SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SAID STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF. 4.5 SEPARABILITY. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes, but this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein. 4.6 COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment to Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. [remainder of page left blank intentionally] -7-

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year set forth above. USA EDUCATION, INC. By: /s/ JOHN F. REMONDI ----------------------------------- Name: John F. Remondi ----------------------------------- Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer ----------------------------------- THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee By: /s/ PATRICIA M. RUSSO ----------------------------------- Name: Patricia M. Russo ----------------------------------- Title: Vice President ----------------------------------- -8-

EXHIBIT A [FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE] A-1

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVED IN SECTION 2.15 OF THE BASE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, ONLY TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE 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 CERTIFICATE 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 HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL, SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. REGISTERED No. R-3 $115,000,000 CUSIP 90390U AB 8 USA EDUCATION, INC. SENIOR NOTE DUE FEBRUARY 18, 2003 (FLOATING RATE) Original Issue Date: April 11, 2001 LIBOR Determination Date: Second LIBOR Business Day prior to Interest Accrual Period Maturity Date: February 18, 2003 Interest Payment Dates: * Interest Rate Basis: LIBOR (Telerate) Interest Accrual Period: ** Index Maturity: Three Months*** Maximum Interest Rate: Maximum permitted by law Spread: +0.28% Redeemable On and After: N/A Initial Interest Rate: 5.30% Optional Repayment Date(s): N/A * June 16, September 16, December 16 and March 16 of each year and the Maturity Date. ** From previous Interest Payment Date through the calendar day before current Interest Payment Date (or Maturity Date, in the case of the last Interest Accrual Period). *** Except for the last Interest Accrual Period, which will be based upon a two-month index maturity.

USA EDUCATION, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal amount stated above on the Maturity Date shown above and interest on the principal amount stated above at the rate PER ANNUM equal to the Initial Interest Rate shown above on the first Interest Payment Date shown above and thereafter at a rate determined in accordance with the provisions on the reverse hereof, until the principal hereof is fully paid or duly made available for payment. The Company will pay interest on each Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date, PROVIDED if any Interest Payment Date, other than the Maturity Date, would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date will be postponed until the next calendar day that is a Business Day. If the Maturity Date is a day that is not a Business Day, principal and interest will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect as if made on the Maturity Date, and no interest on such payment shall accrue from or after the Maturity Date. "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or Legal Holiday in New York City. The "Regular Record Date" for each payment is the date one calendar day immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date. 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, 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. Any such interest which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith 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, notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of this Note not less than ten 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 the Notes may be listed and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. The Company shall pay interest at the applicable interest rate (calculated quarterly on each LIBOR Determination Date) 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 shall appear in the register for this Note, PROVIDED that so long as this Note is represented by a Global Security, each payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds, if the registered holder has provided the Trustee appropriate instructions for such payment. The principal hereof 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. -2-

REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH ON THE FACE HEREOF. This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York. Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by 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 shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. -3-

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed. Dated: April 11, 2001 USA EDUCATION, INC. By: ----------------------------------- Name: Title: By: ----------------------------------- Name: Title: CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Trustee By: ----------------------------------- Authorized Signature -4-

[Reverse of Note] USA EDUCATION, INC. SENIOR NOTE DUE FEBRUARY 18, 2003 (FLOATING RATE) This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Company issued under the Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2000 (the "Base Indenture"), the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 27, 2001, and the Amendment to the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 11, 2001 (collectively, the "Indenture"), each between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights and limitations of rights thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and the terms upon which the Securities 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. This Note is designated as a Senior Note due February 18, 2003. The Interest Accrual Period for each Interest Payment Date begins on each Interest Payment Date and ends on the calendar day before the next Interest Payment Date, PROVIDED that the first Interest Accrual Period under this Note began on March 16, 2001 and will end on June 17, 2001, the calendar day before the first Interest Payment Date. The interest rate in effect during each Interest Accrual Period after the first will be the interest rate determined on the LIBOR Determination Date immediately preceding such Interest Accrual Period, PROVIDED that the interest rate in effect for the first Interest Accrual Period will be the Initial Interest Rate specified on the face hereof. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the applicable Interest Accrual Period. All percentages resulting from any calculations will be carried to five decimal places (that is, to the one hundred thousandths place), with five one-millionths being rounded upwards, if necessary. In addition, the interest rate hereon shall in no event be higher than the maximum rate, if any, permitted by applicable law. Commencing with the first LIBOR Determination Date, and thereafter on each succeeding LIBOR Determination Date, the rate at which interest on this Note is payable shall be adjusted. Each such adjusted rate shall be applicable to the Interest Accrual Period to which it relates. Subject to applicable law and except as specified herein, the rate of interest on this Note for each Interest Accrual Period after the first shall be Three-month LIBOR plus the Spread (as specified on the face hereof), provided the rate of interest on this Note for the last Interest Accrual Period shall be Two-month LIBOR plus the Spread. Three-month LIBOR or Two-month LIBOR, for any Interest Accrual Period, are the London interbank offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three months or two months, respectively, commencing on the first day of the Interest Accrual Period, which appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. London time, on the related LIBOR -5-

Determination Date. If this rate does not appear on Telerate Page 3750, the rate for that day will be determined on the basis of the rates at which deposits in U.S. dollars, having the applicable maturity and in a principal amount of not less than U.S. $1,000,000, are offered at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Determination Date, to prime banks in the London interbank market by the Reference Banks. The Trustee will request the principal London office of each Reference Bank to provide a quotation of its rate. If the Reference Banks provide at least two quotations, the rate for that day will be the arithmetic mean of the quotations. If the Reference Banks provide fewer than two quotations, the rate for that day will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted by major banks in New York City, selected by the Trustee, at approximately 11:00 a.m. New York time, on that LIBOR Determination Date, for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks having the applicable maturity and in a principal amount of not less than U.S. $1,000,000. If the banks selected as described above are not providing quotations, Two-month LIBOR or Three-month LIBOR in effect for the applicable Interest Accrual Period will be Two-month LIBOR or Three-month LIBOR, as applicable, as most recently quoted on Telerate Page 3750. "LIBOR Business Day" means any day on which banks in New York City and the City of London are open for the transaction of international business. "LIBOR Determination Date" means, for each Interest Accrual Period, the second LIBOR Business Day before the beginning of that Interest Accrual Period. "Reference Banks" means four major banks in the London interbank market selected by the Trustee. "Telerate Page 3750" means the display page so designated on the Bridge Telerate Capital Markets Report or any other page that may replace that page on that service for the purpose of displaying comparable rates or prices. The Trustee shall calculate the interest rate hereon in accordance with the foregoing and will confirm in writing such calculation to the Company and the Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) immediately after each determination. All determinations made by the Trustee shall be, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Company and Holders of the Notes. At the request of the Holder hereof, the Trustee will provide to the Holder hereof the interest rate hereon then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate which will become effective as of the next Interest Accrual Period. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all of the outstanding Notes, by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal of all the Notes due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the 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 Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in -6-

aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all 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 shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note. Holders of Notes may not enforce their rights pursuant to the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or the Indenture shall 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, herein prescribed. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, 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 hereof 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 Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, this Note is exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of different authorized denomination as requested by the Holder surrendering the same. No service charge will be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, 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 hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary. -7-

ABBREVIATIONS The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall 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. _____________________ 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) -8-