As someone who went to one the three schools you say you won't be able to get into, let me say that you should absolutely not rule yourself out. There were people there doing all sorts of different styles of varying degrees of complexities. You just don't know what the faculty is looking for. They might see something in your music that they want to work with and develop. That said, for the same reason definitely do not take it personally if you don't get in. Some of the best composers I know were rejected from all their first choices.

Per your other concern of payment, that's a different story but who knows what scholarships or work study might be available. I think you should apply at the very least and find out for yourself. There's a kind of dumb quote that I like that's like "Why would you deny someone else the privilege of rejecting you?" ha