Ralph Arriola was born in Camarillo, California. After completing his high school education, he then went on and completed two years at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, majoring in Tool Design and Die Making. He also studied education at Los Angeles Valley College. Throughout Arriola's life and career, he has been involved with the United Auto Workers International Union, the California State Legislature, as well as local politics addressing Latino issues such as education, youth programs, and voter education.

In 1968, Arriola became an International Representative for the United Auto Workers and represented the union in nine western states. In 1970, he became the Chief of Staff for State Assemblyman Jim Keysor. In 1979, Arriola became the Executive Director of the Latin American Civic Association, where he expanded its daily student population from 700 to 1,600 students during his fourteen year tenure, serving over 18,000 preschool children. He also developed fifty units of low income housing on Blyth Street in Panorama City. He served in this position until 1993.

Arriola is the Former Director of Community and Government Relations (1996-2004) at Options for Youth, an independent study charter school program. Options for Youth has twenty charter schools and serves over 30,000 students.