How to Choose Where to Apply for Master's Studies in the U.S?

I'm from a European country and currently in my final year of electrical engineering. I want to apply for a Master's program in the U.S., but I can't apply to universities randomly because each application costs around $100, and I'm on a tight budget. Additionally, the university needs to offer scholarships.

Here's my situation:

1. I'm studying at the best university in my home country (though I'm not sure how much this matters).
2. I have a 2.9 GPA, while most institutions seem to require at least a 3.0 GPA.
3. I've published several noteworthy papers in computational fields (AI, machine learning) during my undergraduate studies.
4. I also have real-world engineering experience with world-class companies.

Given these circumstances, which universities do you think would be my best bet? I can afford to apply to only 3-4 schools.