<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>                                            6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                        DEC-31-1997 
<PERIOD-START>                                           JAN-01-1997 
<PERIOD-END>                                             JUN-30-1997 
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1.000
<CASH>                                                   595
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                         0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                              0
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                   0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                     0
<LOANS>                                                  7,163,758
<ALLOWANCE>                                              1,761
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           7,404,707      
<DEPOSITS>                                               0      
<SHORT-TERM>                                             5,785,049      
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                      112,493      
<LONG-TERM>                                              1,100,000      
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0      
<PREFERRED>                                              0      
<COMMON>                                                 200      
<OTHER-SE>                                               388,055      
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                           7,404,707      
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                          287,346      
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                        0      
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                         0      
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                         287,346      
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                       0      
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       199,392      
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                    87,954      
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                            1,452      
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                       0      
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                          34,592      
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                          51,952      
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                               30,919      
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0      
<CHANGES>                                                0      
<NET-INCOME>                                             30,919      
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            1.55   
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            1.55   
<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>