Distance college education is booming, with no signs of slowing down.

According to the Sloan Foundation’s 2009 report, Learning on Demand: Online Education in the United States, 2009, online distance course registrations at colleges have continued to grow much faster than residential or campus enrollments — up 17 percent from 2007 to 2008 alone.

Veterans education benefits allow eligible military personnel to earn a degree online at very low-cost. Some vets can even earn a free degree by taking accredited online courses.

However, not all veterans education benefits are equal. Benefits vary, depending on where veterans live, and where they choose to attend school.  Special rules apply to distance learning programs as opposed to campus degrees.

Some veterans may be better off using the old Montgomery GI Bill (MGI bill), while others may receive more benefits using the newer, Post-9/11 GI Bill, which went into effect in 2009.

Here are 5 keys to understanding and using your military distance education benefits wisely. Use this checklist and you may be able to earn an online degree without paying a penny.