In this paper, we shall study the optimal control of the initial-boundary value problem of a higher-order nonlinear parabolic equation describing crystal surface growth. The existence and uniqueness of weak solutions to the problem are given. According to the variational method, optimal control theories and distributed parameter system control theories, we can deduce that the norm of the solution is related to the control item and initial value in the special Hilbert space. The optimal control of the problem is given, the existence of optimal solution is proved and the optimality system is established.