15-20k is very significant. That’s 60-80k by the time you graduate. NEU has a well ranked business school, is in Boston, and has the co-op program. If all three of those are positives and it is 15-20k cheaper, I don’t see any reason to pick Rutgers over it. Even without the money I think their reputations are about the same at this point.
It looks like friends and SO is a big perk for Rutgers. It may be a nice level of comfort but you will make plenty of friends in college no matter the school you go to. Any truly important friends you can still keep in contact with, and you can try distance with your SO if you feel it is that serious. However, the likeliness of SO’s from high school working out is incredibly low and is not worth 80k.
Full bias disclosure: I am an NEU student in a serious relationship that I entered once I got to college. I came here with my former best friend (by chance, didn’t attempt to match up). We have since drifted apart and I actually keep in touch more with friends in schools hundreds of miles away more than said former friend.
Hope some of that helps! If you have any questions about NEU I would be happy to answer them.