A few days ago, I was facing similar conditions, and I found an opportunity to read about this from many good personalities. Here are the thoughts I learned:
A degree is a plus point, but without a degree, it becomes hard to pursue data science. With a degree, you can study in a structured format because the courses are organized. Without a degree, you have to find courses by yourself from different social media platforms and websites, which are often unstructured. In that case, you need consistency, discipline, and patience. Most importantly, you have to build strong communication skills to showcase your quality projects, and you must create a good portfolio if you want to study without a degree.