According to a study conducted by The Center for Responsible Politics, Georgetown churns out a significant number of graduates who become revolving door lobbyists. The list of 26 universities reveals that 187 Georgetown graduates registered as lobbyists in 2011 have worked for both the federal government and political lobbying or consulting firms. This is the highest number compared to any other university surveyed in the study.

The survey also shows four of five of the top universities are, predictably, in Washington D.C. Second after Georgetown is George Washington University, with 151 revolving door lobbyists. Following Harvard University is American University at 88, University of Virginia at 63, and Catholic University at 63. Proximity to the hub of lobbying activity plays a huge role in determining the number of alumni in that field of work.

The Center describes a revolving door lobbyist as “any person with previous or current government experience who also has held, or currently holds, a professional position in the private sector where they can reasonably be expected to influence, or be seeking to influence, public policy decisions.” The project’s intent, according to their stated methodology, is to identify the people who transition from the public to private sector and “to uncover how these people’s government connections afford them privileged access to those in power.” The Center asserts their survey does not intend to accuse these people of engaging in a conflict of interest.

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