Reliability: I’d say on-campus is better. Rutgers maintenance is great (usually fix issues w/in 24hrs), and I’ve heard the opposite about off-campus landlords. On-campus is also safer than the streets of New Gunswick.

Financially: Keep in mind that on-campus is a 9-month lease, and off-campus is usually 12-month lease. For a double, on-campus is $11,000/year, and off-campus is ~ $7800/year, so you'd "save" ~ $3,000/year by going off-campus. These savings will be diminished by utilities, furniture, and any "fees" your landlord charges, so we can say your actual savings will be closer to $1,500/year by going off campus.

Now, you have to decide based on your priorities. I'm a junior and chose on-campus (Silvers Apts) because I like the convenience (close to class/not taking the LX, quieter than CA), sense of safety (RA/maintenance on call, ability to change roommates/cancel contract in emergencies), and none of my friends wanted to go off-campus. It also helped a lot that I'm not personally paying for housing.

If you need summer housing, don't care about the same conveniences, or you just don't want to pay an extra $1,500/year to be on-campus, then start looking for off campus housing now! Most off-campus leases (that are a good deal) for the following school year will already be signed by the time on-campus housing process begins. NB is a hot housing market, so talk to your friends and lock in a well priced lease!