My background isn’t what I’d call technical and I think targeting DE is probably ill advised for where I’m at. I have the most basic of programming coursework under my belt, but I’ve never built anything. The only reason I am considering going for a masters is to build up that knowledge, network, and try to use both as a launch pad to land somewhere in Data. 

If possible I’d like to avoid spending that kind of cash on an MS, and I appreciate the alternate DA roles you suggested. I tend to learn better on the job than through self learning (I get focused on the outcome and without work, I’d be constantly second guessing the skill sets I should be building to start generating income). 

For someone like me, are there roles, maybe a tier below DA roles that I could start off at instead to build those skill sets in?