When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.
We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.
Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.
We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.
This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.
Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.
We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.
Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.
What You'll Contribute
Launch Your Career as a Future Analytics Leader
The Associate Lines of Defense Early Career Development Program is a selective 24-month development program designed to build the next generation of risk, compliance, controls, and audit talent at Sallie Mae. Through rotational experiences across key Lines of Defense functions, you'll develop the unique combination of business acumen, analytical thinking, risk awareness, and professional judgment needed to identify emerging risks, strengthen controls, support regulatory readiness, and influence sound business decisions.
As a member of the program, you'll work on meaningful projects that directly impact our customers, business performance, risk management practices, and strategic priorities. You'll gain exposure to multiple areas of the organization, participate in structured development opportunities, and build relationships with leaders and mentors who are invested in your success.
This program is designed for individuals who are curious, analytical, detail-oriented, and eager to learn how strong governance, risk management, compliance, and assurance practices support a healthy financial services organization. By the end of the experience, you'll have a strong foundation in the business, a practical understanding of the Lines of Defense model, and the skills needed to accelerate your career within Sallie Mae.
This opportunity is intended for students who will complete their Bachelor's or Master's degree between December 2026 and June 2027 and are available to begin full-time employment in June 2027 as part of our Early Career Development Program.
What You'll Do
Complete three 8-month rotational assignments across key Lines of Defense groups. Each rotation is designed to strengthen your understanding of the business, develop your risk and controls mindset, and build the analytical and communication skills needed to help teams identify issues, evaluate processes, and drive meaningful improvements.
Business Controls
Learn how strong first-line controls help teams manage operational, process, and business risks before issues arise.
Evaluate business practices, processes, and controls to identify potential risk areas and improvement opportunities
Support issue identification, root cause analysis, remediation planning, and control enhancement efforts
Partner with business teams to strengthen accountability, process discipline, and risk awareness
Document observations, recommendations, and progress in a clear, action-oriented manner
Enterprise Risk Management
Build a broader understanding of enterprise-wide risk frameworks, governance practices, and risk oversight across business lines.
Support analysis of key business processes, emerging risks, and control environments
Contribute to assessments that identify gaps, trends, and opportunities to reduce risk exposure
Assist with risk reporting, governance materials, and leadership-ready insights
Learn how enterprise risk practices inform strategic decisions and support responsible growth
Compliance
Develop an understanding of the regulatory environment and how compliance programs help protect customers, the business, and Sallie Mae.
Research regulatory expectations and help assess how they apply to business processes
Support compliance monitoring, testing, issue tracking, and reporting activities
Translate complex information into clear insights that help inform leadership decision-making
Build awareness of consumer finance, operational compliance, and regulatory risk considerations
Internal Audit
Gain exposure to independent assurance work that evaluates governance, risk management, and control effectiveness.
Assist with planning and executing audit procedures, including walkthroughs, testing, and documentation
Analyze evidence, identify themes, and summarize findings in a clear and professional manner
Support reporting that helps leadership understand risks, control gaps, and recommended actions
Develop professional skepticism, attention to detail, and sound judgment through hands-on audit work
Throughout the Program, You Will
Solve meaningful business problems through risk-based, analytical, and process-oriented thinking
Develop technical, analytical, communication, and consulting skills through hands-on experience
Communicate findings and recommendations through presentations, reporting, and concise business writing
Partner with stakeholders across multiple functions and business areas
Participate in mentorship, networking, and leadership development opportunities
Gain exposure to senior leaders and strategic business initiatives
Join a cohort of high-performing early-career professionals committed to learning, growth, and collaboration
What You Have - Required Qualifications
Education
Expected graduation between December 2026 and June 2027 with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant discipline such as Business, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Management, Data Science, Risk Management, Compliance, or a related field
Technical Skills
Experience with SQL, Python, SAS, or similar programming languages through coursework, internships, research, or work experience
Exposure to Power BI or other data visualization tools is a plus
Analytical Skills
Strong analytical mindset with the ability to evaluate information, identify trends, and solve complex or ambiguous business problems
Ability to develop hypotheses, organize work, interpret results, and translate findings into actionable recommendations
Communication Skills
Ability to communicate complex information clearly and professionally to a range of audiences
Strong written, verbal, presentation, and documentation skills
Collaboration & Leadership Potential
Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and willingness to learn
Ability to collaborate effectively across teams, build strong working relationships, and contribute in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
Strong interpersonal skills and interest in developing leadership capability
Attention to Detail
Commitment to accuracy, quality, documentation, and delivering high-value work
Growth Mindset
Curiosity, resilience, professionalism, and enthusiasm for continuous learning
Interest in building a career in risk management, compliance, controls, internal audit, governance, business analysis, or related fields
Preferred Experience
Internship, co-op, research, leadership, or work experience involving finance, business analysis, compliance, audit, risk management, controls, data analysis, or related disciplines
Exposure to analytical tools, reporting, process improvement, or documentation practices is a plus
Why Join Sallie Mae?
At Sallie Mae, you'll do more than learn about risk and controls—you'll help strengthen the practices that support our customers, business performance, and long-term success. Through hands-on work, mentorship, leadership exposure, and rotational experiences, you'll build the foundation to become a future leader in risk, compliance, controls, audit, or governance.
Launch your career. Build your expertise. Become a future Lines of Defense leader.
Feeling your best helps you do your best:Our benefits take care of the whole you—so you can build your work around your life (not the other way around!).
Competitive base salaries
Bonus incentives
Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed
Support for financial-well-being and retirement 401k with employer match
Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more
Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance
Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs
Free access to on-site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware)
Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives
Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs
Career development and training opportunities
Not the right fit? Let us know you're interested in a future opportunity by clicking Introduce Yourself in the top-right corner of the page or create an account to set up email alerts as new job postings become available that meet your interest!
Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Click here to view the U.S. Pay Transparency Policy, here for federal job applicant notices, and here to view the California Employee Privacy Notice.Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please call (855) 756-2007 and choose option 9. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or Master's degree expected between Dec 2026 and Jun 2027 in Business, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Management, Data Science, Risk Management, Compliance, or related field
- Experience with SQL through coursework, internships, research, or work experience
- Experience with Python through coursework, internships, research, or work experience
- Experience with SAS through coursework, internships, research, or work experience
- Exposure to Power BI or other data visualization tools
- Strong analytical mindset, ability to evaluate information, identify trends, and solve ambiguous business problems
- Ability to develop hypotheses, organize work, interpret results, and translate findings into actionable recommendations
- Strong written, verbal, presentation, and documentation skills
- Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and willingness to learn; collaboration and leadership potential
- Commitment to accuracy, quality, and attention to detail
- Interest in building a career in risk management, compliance, controls, internal audit, governance, or business analysis
- Internship, co-op, research, leadership, or work experience in finance, business analysis, compliance, audit, risk management, or related disciplines
Sallie Mae Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Sallie Mae and has not been reviewed or approved by Sallie Mae.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Bonuses are considered good or achievable in several roles, making total compensation feel stronger than base pay alone. Incentive plans are viewed as a meaningful part of earnings in collections and other roles.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO is characterized as generous with additional paid and floating holidays. Time off that scales by level and tenure is highlighted as a valued part of the package.
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Parental & Family Support — Fully paid parental leave for primary and secondary caregivers and adoption assistance are emphasized as standout benefits. External recognition for adoption-friendly policies reinforces strength in family support.
Sallie Mae Insights
What We Do
Sallie Mae’s mission is to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. We believe college should be affordable, equitable, and accessible for all students. As the leader in private student lending, we provide financing and expertise to support college access and completion. We offer products and resources to help students and families start smart in planning for higher education, ensuring opportunities to learn and dream big.
