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): February 27, 2012

SLM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (302) 283-8000

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

As previously disclosed, on January 5, 2012, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) of SLM Corporation (the “Company”) engaged KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012. During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and through February 27, 2012 (the date of filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (the “2011 Form 10-K”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)), the Company has not consulted with KPMG regarding (i) the application of accounting principles to any proposed transaction or the rendering of any audit opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” or a “reportable event,” as those terms are defined in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K.

As previously disclosed, on November 30, 2011, the Audit Committee approved the dismissal of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as its independent registered public accounting firm, with such dismissal to become effective upon completion by PwC of its procedures on the financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the filing of the 2011 Form 10-K.

The audit reports of PwC: (i) on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries as of and for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle; and (ii) on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principle.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and through February 27, 2012 (the date of filing of the 2011 Form 10-K), there have been (i) no “disagreements” between the Company and PwC on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of PwC would have caused PwC to make reference thereto in their reports on the consolidated financial statements for such years, and (ii) no “reportable events.”

The Company has provided PwC with a copy of the above disclosures, and PwC has furnished the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating that it agrees with the above statements. A copy of such letter, dated March 2, 2012, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.

(d) Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

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

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