I remember having a similar sense of panic/what’s the point early in college, too. Well, mine was more like in semester 2 but same idea.
What I came to appreciate about college was less the coursework itself than the resources and connections. I spent so much time buried in the library reading books and journals about just… whatever. And having interesting conversations with people studying totally different subjects. Those connections take time, and overcoming a lot of self-doubt when everyone else is trying to appear as smart and sophisticated as possible (not to mention all the distractions and sexual competition), but it was worth the patience for me.
I also came to like my courses more once I got into the upper division and was with students who were in my same major and actually interested in the subject. That online course thing sounds like a drag, though. I would go for it now that I have a full time job and need the flexibility, but in undergrad you need the serendipity of meeting random people in class.