The mission of Crown College is to promote intellectual, personal and social success and to provide an ethical and inclusive living and learning environment.

Crown is located on a hilltop surrounded by a redwood forest. The core buildings consist of the dining hall, lounge spaces, recreation facilities, faculty offices, and classrooms built around a large patio and central fountain.

The College's residential facilities are made up of eight residence hall buildings and eight apartment buildings housing approximately 1/2 of affiliated students. The facilities at Crown College were built through a partnership of public funds and a gift from the Crown Zellerbach Foundation.The general theme of Crown College highlights Science and Technology, which is reflected in the College Core course: Ethical Issues In Emerging Technologies. Though known as UCSC's "Science College," nearly 50% of Crown undergraduates major in the Social Sciences or Arts arenas.