I don't know much about other programs, but I can tell you that UNC-Charlotte does provide funding to many of its students. There are a number of TA positions available throughout the year, mostly in Research Methods, Quantitative Methods, and one or two writing-intensive courses. Some second year students have been invited to work on a long-term NSF-funded research project. The typical funding package includes an out of state tuition waiver, tuition remission, and a fair (albeit not enormous) stipend . The department is very strong, with a number of faculty members publishing regularly in top journals. The current president of the SSS is also in the department. It's a good place to be, and regularly places its graduates in top PhD programs. I don't think it's too late to apply, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.