Is Rutgers or the University of New Hampshire more affordable for a New Jersey resident?

For a New Jersey resident, Rutgers will almost always be the more affordable option on published cost, because you receive New Jersey in-state tuition while UNH charges its substantially higher nonresident rate.

Housing and food costs can vary by campus and living arrangement, but they are unlikely to erase the tuition difference. At Rutgers, living at home or choosing a lower-cost campus housing arrangement can reduce the total further. Attending UNH also adds travel costs between New Jersey and Durham, New Hampshire, particularly for breaks and trips home.

The important exception is a strong UNH merit scholarship or need-based grant package. Compare each school’s official financial-aid offer using net cost: tuition and required fees plus housing, food, books, travel, and other expected expenses, minus grants and scholarships only. Do not treat loans, work-study, or parent borrowing as discounts.

UNH would need to offer enough institutional gift aid to cover much of its nonresident tuition premium before it becomes financially comparable to Rutgers. Unless that happens in your actual award letter, Rutgers is likely to be the lower-cost choice for all four years.