I heard A LOT of good things about Rutgers and have looked into it myself. But like Enoch said its location is a huge drawback, considering when I transfer to a four year I plan on living off-campus (I'm transferring in the Fall semester after this upcoming one).
My sister graduated from La Salle University in Philadelphia, and like Rutgers, it's a glimmering gem situated in the middle of da' hood. She lived off campus nearby in one of those pay by semester complexes and the stories she can tell you about that experience. Among what one would typically see in the more poorer sections of the city: drug dealing (right outside her complex no less), frequent police sirens and flashing lights on her block or one close by, people you wouldn't bring home to meet your mother, I'll sum the worst of it (for her at least):
She had to move back home and commute the rest of her time there due to some faulty sewage piping which resulted in a portion breaking on the floor above her with her ceiling leaking **** water. You can't make this stuff up.
Personally at the moment I'm leaning towards Montclair university but I'm not ruling out the other state colleges/universities... except for Rowan.