PRICING SUPPLEMENT NO. 3 DATED SEPTEMBER 26, 2002     FILED UNDER RULE 424(b)(3)
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED SEPTEMBER 13, 2002               FILE NO. 333-90316
AND PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 13, 2002)


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

- --------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Principal Amount: $105,000,000 Floating Rate Notes: |_| Fixed Rate Notes: |X| - --------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Original Issue Date: October 1, 2002 Closing Date: October 1, 2002 CUSIP Number: 78442F AD0 - --------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------ -------------------------------------- Maturity Date: July 1, 2005 Option to Extend Maturity: |X| No Specified Currency: U.S. Dollars |_| Yes If Yes, Final Maturity Date: - --------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------ --------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------- Redeemable at the option of the Company: |X| No Redemption Price: Not Applicable. - ------------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------- |_| Yes Redemption Dates: Not Applicable. - ------------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------- Repayment at the option of the Holder: |X| No Repayment Price: Not Applicable. - ------------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------------------------- -------------------------- |_| Yes Repayment Dates: Not Applicable. - ------------------------------------------------ -------------- ----------------------------------- --------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ APPLICABLE TO FIXED RATE NOTES ONLY: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - -------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest Rate: 2.90% Interest Payment Dates: Each January 1st and July 1st during the term of the Notes, subject to following business day convention, beginning January 2, 2003. - -------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest Accrual Method: 30/360 Interest Periods: From and including the Closing Date, or each January 1st or July 1st, as the case may be, to and including the next succeeding June 30th or December 31st, as the case may be, with no adjustment to period end dates for accrual purposes. - -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue Price: 100%. Agents' Commission: 0.207%. Net Proceeds: $104,782,650.00 ------------------------------- MERRILL LYNCH & CO. September 26, 2002 Form: Book-entry. Denominations: $1,000 minimum and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Trustee: JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank. Agent: Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is acting as underwriter in connection with this issuance. OBLIGATIONS OF SLM CORPORATION AND ANY SUBSIDIARY OF SLM CORPORATION ARE NOT GUARANTEED BY THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. NEITHER SLM CORPORATION NOR ANY SUBSIDIARY OF SLM CORPORATION (OTHER THAN STUDENT LOAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION) IS A GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED ENTERPRISE OR AN INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.