No-brainer - UMDNJ will leave you with less debt, you will likely have more free time, you will likely do better in your classes because of how much time you'll save by the commute. I know Columbia has that reputation and I know any parent would be proud to say their child graduated from Columbia... But keep in mind that just about nobody cares where you graduated from in the real world and it is particularly true in a profession where your experience in the clinic matters more than your formal education or the "DPT" title.
I also think having that extra free time is far more valuable than any small thing that one program does that another doesn't, such as "well, at this school I would have to share a cadaver," "This school's clinicals begin spring of year 1 vs. fall of year 2," or "this school has 38 weeks of clinical education vs. only 32 weeks at this other school." I know that last example hasn't been mentioned in this thread, but I have seen it around and its pettiness drives me crazy. After a measly 2 years on the job (~100 weeks) - which still leaves you as the rookie in the clinic - those extra 6 weeks will mean next to nothing. Having to share a cadaver, when looking at the big picture, seems pretty small to me as well.
Are those commutes total for the day, or each way? If it is total, you are sacrificing 9% (vs. 2% for UMDNJ) on commuting to go to Columbia. If those commutes were each way, you'd be sacrificing 18% of your life on the commute for Columbia vs. 4% for UMDNJ (this is all assuming you get 7 hours/sleep per night - adjust higher if you get more sleep/night and adjust lower if you get less sleep per night). Are you willing to give up 7% or 14% of your time being alive on this planet for the next 3 years to go to Columbia instead of UMDNJ? Now factor in the extra time it will take to pay off the extra tuition to attend Columbia, and factor in traffic/train cancellations that are more likely to affect you on a longer commute causing you to miss time in class and then have to study harder on your own time.
I really don't mean to on a rant - it's just that so many of these "should I go to school A or school B" threads don't have the most mature perspectives on what should matter and what ultimately does not. Although I think the decision is only difficult for you because it's your future and it's obviously tougher to make a decision from the inside looking out than it is for anybody to give you advice - I get the feeling you've already made it and are just looking for some reinforcement - this thread isn't one of the bad ones in terms of maturity.
EDIT: How does tuition for each compare? If the scholarship makes them comparable tuition-wise, the decision isn't as easy, though I think the extra time will be invaluable.
