In some unis, you can get application fee waived. Check on that. ALso, you gotta apply atleast 10 unis. Few from 1st tier and few from mid and lower tier. I do not know about the private unis but most state unis provide assistantship. As someone mentioned already there are pHD programs and in some there are not. Assistantship is very competitive and soley based upon GRE for Sceinces and GMAT for mgmt; GPA; research; and expereince. If your are in sciences then it is a good idea to find a professor and a reseach topic. However in CS most probably, there will be garduate coordianator to evaluate your credentials. You are adivced to contact him/her. It is also adivible to take a trip to unis and meet the graduate coordinator direclty. However set up appintmnet beofre that. You seemed to have good scores. SO, it will not be tough to get into mid tier unis. FYI, I am totally from mgmt backgound and not from CS background. Also I have seen some frens getting rejected from good unis although having 600 + score GMAT and almost a perfect GPA. So also the rep of u r undergrad uni also helps a lot. A good recommnedation letters from u r prof also make a very big diff. peace out