Associate, Analytics – Early Career Development Program

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, help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them start smart and learn big, we need a partner who acknowledges that their education path is unique and who is willing to evolve, exceed expectations, and bring an authentic self to work.

The Associate Analytics Early Career Development Program is a selective 24‑month development program designed to build the next generation of analytics talent ough rotational experiences across Business, Credit, Marketing, and Data Analytics, you’ll develop the unique combination of business acumen, analytical thinking, and technical expertise needed to solve complex challenges and influence key business decisions. As a member of the program, you’ll work on meaningful projects that directly impact our customers, business performance, and strategic priorities, and you’ll gain exposure to multiple areas of the organization, structured development opportunities, and relationships with leaders and mentors invested in your success.

Complete three 8‑month rotational assignments across our key Analytics groups. Each rotation strengthens your business knowledge, technical capabilities, and ability to translate data into meaningful business outcomes.

• Business & Credit Analytics – Learn how analytics drives business performance, customer outcomes, and risk management decisions. You will:
  • Analyze business performance, customer behavior, and portfolio trends to identify opportunities and inform decision‑making.
  • Evaluate credit and risk performance to support lending and portfolio management strategies.
  • Generate insights and recommendations that influence business strategy, customer outcomes, and operational performance.
  • Partner with business leaders to solve complex challenges and deliver measurable results.
• Data Analytics – Build the technical foundation needed to transform data into insights and business value. You will:
  • Utilize tools such as SQL, Python, and PowerBI to analyze, visualize, and interpret data.
  • Develop dashboards, reporting solutions, and analytical products that support decision‑making.
  • Apply forecasting, statistical analysis, and modeling techniques to solve business challenges.
  • Identify opportunities to automate processes, improve data quality, and enhance analytics capabilities.
• Throughout the program, you will:
  • Solve meaningful business problems using data and analytics.
  • Develop technical, analytical, and consulting skills through hands‑on experience.
  • Communicate insights and recommendations through presentations, dashboards, and data storytelling.
  • 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.

• Expected graduation in May
  2027 with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a quantitative discipline such as Data Analytics, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Technical Skills – Experience with SQL, Python, SAS, or similar programming languages through coursework, internships, research, or work experience; exposure to PowerBI or other data visualization tools is a plus.
• Analytical Skills – Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and solve complex problems.
• Communication Skills – Ability to communicate complex ideas and analytical insights to both technical and non‑technical audiences; strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Collaboration & Leadership – Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and a willingness to learn; ability to collaborate effectively across teams and build strong working relationships; strong interpersonal skills and a desire to contribute in a fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment.
• Attention…