Are you going to a UC that has a music school? Meaning, are you doing a BM rather than BA? Did you submit a portfolio?
Composing at school is often classical, and is not composing with programs online, at least at schools with a classical focus (there is electronic work in some courses, but that is different from what you are talking about).
There are music schools that cater to contemporary or popular music.
If you are committed to a UC, you can study whatever you want (if you are not committed to the music school, if there is one) and do music p/t or outside of class if that works better for you.
Terminology can be confusing. “New music” aka contemporary classical is the focus of many schools. That is very different from rock or contemporary popular music.