<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     9
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE STUDENT
LOAN CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                         1,000
<CURRENCY>                                    U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                                            <C>  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1.000
<CASH>                                                  98
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                         0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                              0
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                   0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                     0
<LOANS>                                          7,438,926
<ALLOWANCE>                                          2,012
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   7,690,360
<DEPOSITS>                                               0
<SHORT-TERM>                                     5,477,373
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                121,358
<LONG-TERM>                                      1,672,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               200
<OTHER-SE>                                         401,442
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                   7,690,360
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                    435,430
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                        0
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                         0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                   435,430
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 304,356
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                              131,074
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                        2,235
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                     51,746
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     79,837
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                          47,306
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        47,306
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         2.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         2.37
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                           0 <F1>
<LOANS-NON>                                              0 <F1>
<LOANS-PAST>                                             0 <F1>
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                         0 <F1>
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          0 <F1>
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                         0 <F1>
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                            0 <F1>
<RECOVERIES>                                             0 <F1>
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                        0 <F1>
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                     0 <F1>
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                      0 <F1>
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                  0 <F1>
<FN>
<F1> Not applicable.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>