Written by Andrew Rollins & Shivram Sundar.
When Brady Kelly arrived at the University of Central Florida (UCF) at just 18 years old, he was a wide-eyed Michigan teenager stepping into the sunshine for the first time. Drawn to UCF’s stellar engineering program, vibrant student culture, and big-campus energy, Brady hoped to make the most of his college years. Today, he’s much more than a UCF graduate—he’s a social media creator with millions of followers, a former tutoring business owner, and an entrepreneur collaborating with major brands.
Born and raised in the snowy streets of Michigan, Brady had his sights set on a future in mechanical engineering. The University of Central Florida (UCF), with its modern campus, booming reputation, and metropolitan energy, became the perfect destination to pursue his goals. For Brady, it wasn’t just about academics—it was about the experience. UCF offered the full package: rigorous programs, a sense of community, and proximity to exciting opportunities in Florida’s growing tech and engineering sectors.
Like any ambitious first-year student, Brady immersed himself in campus life. Between juggling classes, forming lifelong friendships, and completing four impressive internships, he was building the foundation for a promising career. But in 2020, everything changed.
The pandemic that swept across the globe, COVID – 19, had struck a blow to education. Students struggled to adjust to the sudden shift to virtual learning. Online classes lacked the structure and interaction of in-person lectures, leaving many students overwhelmed and disconnected.
Brady quickly adapted, and what began as a small effort to tutor his peers soon grew into a full-fledged business. With the launch of Tutor U, Brady created a platform to help students tackle their toughest subjects from the comfort of their homes. By meeting students where they were—virtually—he turned a side hustle into a lifeline for others navigating the challenges of remote learning.
By 2021, social media apps had hit their golden age, fueled by people stuck at home turning to these platforms for connection and expression. During this pivotal time, Brady found a unique way to expand Tutor U’s reach. In 2021, he turned to TikTok, becoming BradyYourTutor. Within just three months, Brady amassed over a million followers.
Brady’s success wasn’t limited to TikTok. By 2022, he leaned into creative trends, including player-versus-player knowledge challenges that resonated deeply with his audience. These efforts skyrocketed his popularity and caught the attention of major brands like FOX, Statefarm, Lenovo, and CapCut, leading to high-profile collaborations. Reflecting on his impact through a recent Instagram post, Brady wrote, “If some of these kids or students are thinking that this [videos] is giving them more information than school, then wow—I might be educating the world in some way.”
Even after graduating, Brady chose to remain close to UCF, settling in nearby Oviedo. He frequently visits campus to film videos, engage with students, and stay connected to the community that helped shape his journey.
Since TikTok, Brady has expanded his reach to multiple platforms, with YouTube as his next frontier. “YouTube might be the future,” he notes, emphasizing the platform’s potential for deeper engagement and broader audiences. Today, BradyYourTutor averages a staggering 350 million views a month across platforms.
Brady’s ambitions, however, extend beyond social media. He envisions himself as both a creator and an entrepreneur, dedicated to creating videos that share fascinating and engaging insights. Drawing from his experience with Tutor U, his current brand collaborations, and his expanding online presence, Brady is proving that education doesn’t have to follow a traditional path.
From navigating Zoom classes during a global pandemic to building an online knowledge empire, Brady Kelly’s journey is a testament to resilience and creativity. He’s not just sharing knowledge—he’s creating a movement that makes education approachable to everyone.
For this Michigan native turned Florida sensation, the sky’s the limit. As he continues to redefine what it means to be a modern-day educator, Brady Kelly proves that sometimes, the best lessons happen far beyond the classroom.
