* Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education: This is a widely respected classification system. Each university would fall under various categories within this system depending on the specific sub-classification used (e.g., research activity, size, etc.). They are all likely classified as Doctoral/Research Universities, but the specific sub-categories will differ.
* Association of American Universities (AAU): Georgetown is a member of the AAU, a prestigious group of leading research universities in the US and Canada. Rutgers and Fordham are not members.
* Private vs. Public: Georgetown and Fordham are private universities. Rutgers is a public university.
* Location: All three are located in the northeastern United States, and all have a presence in urban areas.
* Religious Affiliation: Georgetown is Jesuit, Fordham is Jesuit, and Rutgers is non-sectarian (public).
In short, while there's no single, overarching classification that neatly encompasses all three, the Carnegie Classification and the AAU membership (for Georgetown) provide significant insights into their relative standing and characteristics. Their differences in public/private status and religious affiliation are also important distinctions.