<p>OP:
Our S did get a fully funded MS-CS (Toronto-'08, Digital Graphics), thesis based. He came from Carnegie Mellon with dual major in mechanical and human-computer interaction. He too wanted more academic work, fully funded, masters program only. He applied to similar universities on your same criteria. He was offered to continue towards a pHd and would have considered it if he couldn’t find a position. It was a near thing, but he found something with only a promise for future pay. He could have found a job fairly easily on a BS without too much trouble, in '06 but '09 is a different story. </p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>