Sallie Mae CD Rates (November 2026) & Calculator

Sallie Mae pays up to 5.00% APY on a 5-year CD. Pick a term to see what your deposit earns, how it compares and what breaking it early would cost.

Rates checked Nov 5, 2026FDIC cert #58177

Sallie Mae CD rates (Nov 5, 2026)

Every CD term Sallie Mae lists on its website, with what $10,000 earns over the full term.

Sallie Mae CD rates by term and balance
Term	Product	Minimum	APY	$10,000 earns
6 months	Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit	$2,500	3.20%	$158.74
9 months	Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit	$2,500	3.20%	$239.05
11 months	Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit	$2,500	4.10%	$375.20
1 year	Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit	$2,500	4.50%	$450.00
13 months	Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit	$2,500	4.50%	$488.40
15 months	Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit	$2,500	4.50%	$565.63
18 months	Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit	$2,500	4.50%	$682.54
2 years	Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit	$2,500	4.50%	$920.25
30 months	Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit	$2,500	4.50%	$1,163.25
3 years	Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit	$2,500	4.60%	$1,444.45
5 years	Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit	$2,500	5.00%	$2,762.82

Special is a promotional rate. Relationship needs a linked account at Sallie Mae. A dash means the same APY as the opening balance. The highlighted row is Sallie Mae's top rate.

Source: Sallie Mae CD rates. Rates change often; confirm before you open an account.

Sallie Mae vs the national average

The FDIC national average is what banks and credit unions pay on average, weighted by deposits (Oct 19, 2026). The last column is the best rate among the 51 other banks we track for the same term.

Sallie Mae CD rates compared with the FDIC national average
Term	Sallie Mae	National avg	Best other bank
6 months	3.20%	1.39%	Popular Direct 4.35%
9 months	3.20%	1.39% (6 mo)	Synchrony 4.50%
11 months	4.10%	1.76% (12 mo)	Wells Fargo 4.25% (relationship)
1 year	4.50%	1.76%	Popular Direct 4.60%
13 months	4.50%	1.76% (12 mo)	CIBC Agility 4.50%
15 months	4.50%	1.76% (12 mo)	Synchrony 4.50%
18 months	4.50%	1.76% (12 mo)	Popular Direct 4.80%
2 years	4.50%	1.55%	E*TRADE 4.80%
30 months	4.50%	1.55% (24 mo)	Old National 4.15%
3 years	4.60%	1.39%	Popular Direct 4.85%
5 years	5.00%	1.41%	Popular Direct 5.00%

Sallie Mae CD early withdrawal penalty

Sallie Mae early withdrawal penalty by term
Term	Penalty
12 months or less	90 days of interest
more than 12 months	180 days of interest

Example: $10,000 in a 1-year CD at 4.50%, withdrawn after 6 months, has earned $222.52. The penalty is $108.54, so you would get $10,113.98.

The penalty can reach your principal if it is more than the interest earned. Official disclosure (checked 2026-11-06).

Taxes on Sallie Mae CD interest

CD interest is taxable as ordinary income, federally and in most states. You owe tax in the year the interest is credited or accrues, even if it stays in the CD until maturity. Sallie Mae sends Form 1099-INT when you earn $10 or more in a year. For example, the $2,762.82 that $10,000 earns over 5 years at 5.00% would cost about $608 in federal tax in the 22% bracket.

If you pay an early withdrawal penalty, it appears in box 2 of your 1099-INT and you can deduct it from your income, even if you don't itemize. CDs held in an IRA follow IRA tax rules instead. See IRS Publication 550.

How We Calculate & Keep This Accurate

Maturity value is your deposit grown at the APY for the term: A = P × (1 + APY)^(months ÷ 12). The APY for each term is the highest balance tier your deposit qualifies for. Early withdrawal penalties are charged as simple interest on the deposit at the CD's interest rate (the APY converted to its daily rate), following Sallie Mae's published rule for that term.

Rates come from Sallie Mae's own rate page. We use the APY Ledger dataset (CC BY 4.0) to spot rate changes, and we checked a sample of rates and the penalty rules against Sallie Mae's website and disclosures. Results are estimates, not an offer from the bank.

Primary Sources

Data & Freshness

Figures reflect 2026 tax-year data.

Last updated November 5, 2026 · Maintained by the Financial Calculator editorial team.

Sallie Mae CD FAQs

Quick answers about Sallie Mae CD rates and penalties.

What are Sallie Mae's CD rates today?

As of Nov 5, 2026, Sallie Mae's highest CD rate is 5.00% APY on the 5 years Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit. The full list of terms and balance tiers is in the table above.

How much will $10,000 earn in a 5-year Sallie Mae CD?

At 5.00% APY, $10,000 grows to $12,762.82 after 5 years, earning $2,762.82 in interest. Change the deposit or term in the calculator to see other amounts.

What is Sallie Mae's CD early withdrawal penalty?

12 months or less: 90 days of interest. more than 12 months: 180 days of interest. If the penalty is more than the interest earned, the rest comes out of your principal.

Are Sallie Mae CDs insured?

Sallie Mae Bank is FDIC-insured (FDIC certificate #58177), so deposits are covered up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category.

How do Sallie Mae's rates compare with the national average?

The FDIC's national average for a 12-month CD was 1.76% as of Oct 19, 2026. Sallie Mae pays 4.50% for 12 months. Its best rate, 5.00% for 5 years, is 3.59 points above the national average for that term.

Compare CD rates at other banks

Best APY at each bank for a $10,000 deposit, checked Nov 5, 2026. Sallie Mae's best is 5.00%.

Green rates beat Sallie Mae's best rate. “rel.” means the rate needs a linked account. Need a bank that isn't listed? Use the CD calculator with any APY.